TheresolutiontobecomeaRedCrossnurse，takenunderstimulusofJolly’senlistment，hadbeenloyallyfulfilledwiththeirritationandregretwhichallForsytesfeelatwhatcurtailstheirindividualliberties。Enthusiasticatfirstaboutthe’wonderfulness’ofthework，shehadbegunafteramonthtofeelthatshecouldtrainherselfsomuchbetterthanotherscouldtrainher。AndifHollyhadnotinsistedonfollowingherexample，andbeingtrainedtoo，shemustinevitablyhave’criedoff。’ThedepartureofJollyandValwiththeirtroopinAprilhadfurtherstiffenedherfailingresolve。Butnow，onthepointofdeparture，thethoughtofleavingEricCobbley，withawifeandtwochildren，adriftinthecoldwatersofanunappreciativeworldweighedonhersothatshewasstillindangerofbackingout。Thereadingofthatcablegram，withitsdisquietingreality，clinchedthematter。
ShesawherselfalreadynursingJolly——forofcoursetheywouldlethernurseherownbrother！Jolyon——everwideanddoubtful——hadnosuchhope。PoorJune！
CouldanyForsyteofhergenerationgrasphowrudeandbrutallifewas?Eversinceheknewofhisboy’sarrivalatCapeTownthethoughtofhimhadbeenakindofrecurrentsicknessinJolyon。HecouldnotgetreconciledtothefeelingthatJollywasindangerallthetime。Thecablegram，gravethoughitwas，wasalmostarelief。Hewasnowsafefrombullets，anyway。Andyet——thisentericwasavirulentdisease！TheTimeswasfullofdeathstherefrom。Whycouldhenotbelyingoutthereinthatup-countryhospital，andhisboysafeathome?Theun-Forsyteanselfsacrificeofhisthreechildren，indeed，hadquitebewilderedJolyon。HewouldeagerlychangeplaceswithJolly，becausehelovedhisboy；
butnosuchpersonalmotivewasinfluencingthem。HecouldonlythinkthatitmarkedthedeclineoftheForsytetype。
LatethatafternoonHollycameouttohimundertheoldoak-tree。