
BY
In the quiet of a country home, Colonel Parsons and his wife await the return of their son from South Africa. Their evenings are marked by simple rituals—reading the paper, knitting a sock, watching the garden's laurel bushes—but underneath lies a palpable mix of pride, anxiety, and longing. The Parsons' relationship is painted with gentle humor and deep affection, their unspoken vows of duty and devotion framing every glance and word.
When a telegram finally arrives, the household erupts in tears and startled joy, revealing how fragile hope can be in a world still remembering distant conflicts. As the couple braces for the news, the story captures the tender tension of a family poised on the brink of reunion, inviting listeners to feel the weight of expectation and the quiet strength of ordinary lives.
Language
en
Duration
~6 hours (395K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from scanned images of public domain material from the Google Print project.)
Release date
2008-10-27
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1874–1965
Known for clear, elegant prose and sharp insight into human nature, this English writer moved easily between novels, plays, and short stories. His best-known books include Of Human Bondage, The Moon and Sixpence, and The Razor's Edge.
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by W. Somerset (William Somerset) Maugham

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