第8章

"Sergeantmajor，letmeintroduceyoutomyfriend，Mr。BarryDunbar，"saidCaptainNeilwithagrin。

"Isay，dad，"saidBarry，stillunabletoassociatehisfatherwiththisN。C。O。inuniformwhostoodbeforehim。"Isay，dad，wheredidyougetallthatmilitarystuff？"

"I’mveryrusty，myboy，veryrusty！Ihopetobrushup，though。

Themenareimproving，Ithink，sir。"

"I’msureofit，"saidCaptainNeil。"HowisthatwildmanfromAthabascadoing？"

"Heisfindingithardwork，sir，I’mafraid。Hefindsitdifficulttoconnectupthisdrillbusinesswiththebusinessofwar。HewantstogorightoffandkillGermans。Butheismakinganefforttoputupwithme。"

"Andyou，withhim，eh，sergeantmajor？Butturnthemloose。Theyhavedoneenoughforto—day，andIknowyoursonwantstotakeyouoffwithhim，andgetyoutoexplainhowyougointothearmy。"

Theexplanationcameastheywerewalkinghometogether。

"Yousee，boy，Ifeltkeenlyyourdisappointmentinbeingrejectedfromthefightingforcesofthecountry。Ifelttoothatourfamilyoughttoberepresentedinthefightingline，sowhenCaptainFraserfoundhimselfinneedofadrillsergeant，Icouldhardlyrefuse。Iwouldhavelikedtohaveconsultedyou，myboy，but——"

"Notatall，dad；youdidperfectlyright。Itwasjustfineofyou。I’masproudasPunch。IonlywishIcouldgowithyou。I’dliketobeinyoursquad。Butnevermind，I’vetwojobsopentomenow，andIsorelyneedyouradvice。"

Togethertheytalkedoverthesuperintendent’sofferofthepositionofchaplain。

"Ican’tseemyselfachaplain，dad。Thepositioncallsforanolderman，amanofwiderexperience。Manyofthesemenwouldbealmosttwicemyage。Nowthesuperintendenthimselfwouldbethemanforthejob。Yououghttoseehimathisworkwiththesoldiers。Ireallycan’tthinkI’mfit。"

Inthisopinionhisfatherratherconcurred。

"Anoldermanwouldbebetter，Barry——amanofmoreexperiencewouldbeofmoreservice，and，yetIdon’tknow。OnethingIamsureof，ifyouaccepttheposition，Ibelieveyouwillfillitworthily。Afterall，ineverydepartment，thiswarisayoungman’sjob。"

"Ofcourse，"saidBarry。"IfIwentaschaplain，itwouldbeinyourunit，dad，andthatwouldbealtogetherglorious。"

"Idohopeso。Butwemustnotallowthat，however，toinfluenceourdecision，"repliedhisfather。

"Iknow，Iknow！"hurriedlyagreedBarry。"ItrustIwouldnotbeundulyinfluencedbypersonalconsiderations。"

Thishope，however，wasrudelydashedbyanunexpectedcallforadraftofrecruitsfromCaptainNeil’scompanythatcamethroughfromColonelKavanaghtoreplaceadraftsuddenlydispatchedtomakeuptostrengthanotherwesternregiment。Attachedtothecalltherewasaspecificrequest，whichamountedtoademandforthesergeantmajor，forwhosespecialqualificationsasphysicalandmilitaryinstructortherewasapparentlyseriousneedinColonelKavanagh’sregiment。

Withgreatreluctance，andwiththeexpenditureofconsiderableprofanity，CaptainNeilFraserdispatchedhisdraftandagreedtothesurrenderofhissergeantmajor。

ThechangecameasashocktobothBarryandhisfather。Forsomedaystheyhadindulgedthehopethattheywouldbothbeattachedtothesamemilitaryunit，andunconsciouslythishadbeenweighingwithBarryinhisconsiderationofhisprobableappointmentaschaplain。

ThedisappointmentoftheirhopewasthemorebitterwhenitwasannouncedthatColonelKavanagh’sbattalionwaswarnedforimmediateserviceoverseas，andthefurtherannouncementthatinallprobabilitythenewbattalion，towhichtheWapiticompanywouldbeattached，mightnotbedispatcheduntilsometimeinthespring。

"ButyoumaycatchusupinEngland，Barry，"saidhisfather，whenBarrywasdeploringtheirillluck。"Nooneknowswhatourmovementswillbe。Idowish，however，thatyourpositionweredefinitelysettled。"

Thedecisioninthismattercamequickly，andwas，withouthiswillordesire，materiallyhastenedbyBarryhimself。

ColonelKavanagh’sbattalionbeingunderorderstodepartwithintendays，afinalChurchParadewasordered，atwhichonlysoldiersandtheirkinwerepermittedtobepresent。Thepreacherforthedayfallingillfromanoverweightofwarwork，andBarrybeinginthecitywithnothingtodo，thedutyofpreachingatthisParadeServicewassuddenlythrustuponhim。

Tohisownamazementandtothatofhisfather，Barryacceptedwithoutanyfearorhesitationthisdutywhichinothercircumstanceswouldhaveoverwhelmedhimwithdismay。ButtoBarrytheoccasionwasofsuchsurpassingmagnitudeandimportancethatallpersonalconsiderationswereobliterated。

Thewar，withitshorrors，itslosses，itsoverwhelmingsacrifice，itsvastandeternalissues，wasthesinglefactthatfilledhismind。Itwasthisthatdeliveredhimfromthatnervousself—

consciousness，thepreacher’scurse，thatparalysesthementalactivities，chillsthepassions，andcloggstheimagination，sothathissermonbecomesalifelessrepetitionofwords，previouslyprepared，correct，evenbeautiful，itmaybeinform，logicalinargument，soundinphilosophy，butdead，dullandimpotent，bereftofthefirethatkindlesthepowersofthesoul，theemotionthaturgestoaction，theimaginationthatlurestohighendeavour。

"Ibeseechyoutherefore，brethren，bythemerciesofGod，thatyepresentyourbodiesalivingsacrifice，holy，acceptableuntoGod，whichisyourreasonableservice。"

Thevoice，clear，vibrant，melodious，arrestedwithitsfirstwordtheeyesandheartsofhishearers，andsoheldthemtotheend。

Withtheearnestvoicetherewasthefascinationofafacealightwithanoblebeauty，eyesglowingaswithlambentflame。

Asecondtimehereadtheappealingwords，thenpausedandallowedhiseyestowanderquietlyoverthecongregation。Theyrepresentedtohiminthathourthemanhoodandwomanhoodofhiscountry。

Sincerely，withnoattemptatrhetoricandwithnoemploymentofanyofitstricks，hebeganhissermon。

"Thiswar，"hesaid，"isaconflictofidealseternallyopposed。

Ourambitiousandruthlessenemyhasmadetheissueandhasdeterminedthemethodofsettlement。Itisawarofsouls，butthemethodofsettlementisnotthatofreasonbutthatofforce——aforcethatfindsexpressionthroughyourbodies。ThereforetheappealoftheApostlePaul，thisold—worldhero，tothemenofhistimereachesdowntousinthisday，andatthiscrisisoftheworld’shistory。Offeryourbodies——theselivingbodies——thesesacredbodies——offertheminsacrificetoGod。"

Therewaslittlediscussionofthecausesofthewar。Whatneed？

Theyknewthatthiswarwasneitheroftheirdesiringnoroftheirmaking。Therewasnoattempttoincitehatredorrevenge。Therewaslittlereferencetothehorrorsofwar，toitsgriefs，itsdreadfulagonies，itsirreparablelosses。

Fromthefirstwordheliftedhisaudiencetothehighplaneofsacramentandsacrifice。Theywerecalledupontoofferuponthealtaroftheworld’sfreedomallthattheyhelddearinlife——yea，lifeitself！Itwastheancientsacrificethatthenoblestoftheracehadalwaysbeencalledupontomake。Ingivingthemselvestothiscausetheyweregivingthemselvestotheircountry。TheywereofferingthemselvestoGod。Insimplediction，andinclearflowingspeech，thesermonproceededwithoutpauseorstumblingtotheend。Thepreacherclosedwithanappealtothesoldierspresenttomakethissacrificeoftheirsatonceworthyandcomplete。Thesebodiesoftheirsweresacredandweredevotedtothiscause。Itwastheirdutytokeepthemcleanandfit。

Forafewbriefmoments，heturnedtotheotherspresentattheservice——thefathers，mothers，wivesandsweetheartsofthesoldiers，andremindedthemintonesthrillingwithtendernessandsympathythatthoughnotprivilegedtoshareinthesoldiers’

serviceinthefrontlines，nonethelessmighttheyshareinthissacrifice，bypatientenduranceoftheseparationandloss，byacheerfulsubmissiontotrial，andbycontinualremembranceinprayertoAlmightyGodofthesacredcauseanditsdefenderstheymighthelptobringthiscausetovictory。

Inthebriefprayerthatfollowedthesermon，inwordstender，simple，heart—moving，heledthepeopleinsolemndedicationofthemselves，soulandbody，totheircountry，totheircause，totheirGod。

Theeffectofthesermonandprayerwasoverpowering。Therewerenotears，butmenwalkedoutwithheadsmoreerect，becauseoftheexaltationofspiritwhichwastheirs。Andwomen，fearfulofthecominghourofparting，felttheirheartsgrowstrongwithinthemwiththethoughtthattheywerevoluntarilysendingtheirmenaway。

Uponthewholecongregationlayanewandsolemnsenseofduty，anewandupliftingsenseofprivilegeinmakingthesacrificeofallthattheycountedpreciousforthisholycause。

ItwasthesermonthatbroughtthedecisioninthematterofBarry’sappointment。

"Whatdoyouthinkofthat，ColonelKavanagh？"askedCaptainNeilFraser，whocameinfortheservice。

"Averyfinesermon！Averynotablesermon！"saidthecolonel。

"Whoishe？"

"Heismyownminister，"saidCaptainNeil，"andhegaveme，to—

day，thesurpriseofmylife。Ididn’tknowitwasinhim。I

understandthereisachanceofhisbeingourchaplain。HeisSergeantDunbar’sson。"

"IwishtoHeavenwecouldtakehimwithus！Whataboutit，Fraser？We’vegotthefather，whynottheson，too？They’dbothlikeit。"

"Isay，Colonel，forHeaven’ssake，haveaheart。Ihatedtosurrendermycompanysergeantmajor。Idon’tthinkIoughttobeaskedtosurrenderourchaplain。"

"Allright，Fraser，sobeit。Butyouhavegotawonderfulchaplaininthatboy。Whataface！Whatavoice！Andthat’sthekindofaspiritwewantinourmen。"

Thatveryafternoon，CaptainNeilwentstraightawaytoColonelLeighton，theofficercommandingthenewregimenttowhichCaptainNeil’scompanybelonged。Tothecolonelhegaveanenthusiasticreportofthesermon，withColonelKavanagh’sjudgmentthereon。

"Iwouldsuggest，sir，thatyouwireOttawaonthematter，"heurged。"IfColonelKavanaghthoughthehadachance，hewouldnothesitate。Wereallyoughttogetthisfixed。Iassureyouhe’safind。"

"Gotoit，then，Fraser。I’mratherinterestedtoseeyourearnestdesireforachaplain。TheLordknowsyouneedone！GouptoHeadquartersandusemyname。Saywhatyoulike。"

ThusitcamethatthefollowingdayBarrywasinformedbywireofhisappointmentaschaplainofthenewregimentofAlbertarangers。

"It’satleastarelieftohavethemattersettled，"saidhisfather，towhomBarrybroughthiswire。"Barry，I’mgladoftheopportunitytotellyouthatsinceyesterday，mymindhasundergoneconsiderablechange。Iamnotsurebutthatyouhavefoundyourplaceandyourworkinthewar。"

"No，dad，"answeredBarry，"Iwasn’tresponsibleforthatsermonyesterday。Thewarwasverynearandveryrealtome。Thoseboyswerelookingupatme，andyouwerethere，dad。Youdrewthatsermonstuffoutofme。"

"Ifonce，whynotagain？Atanyrate，itgreatlyrejoicedmetoknowthatitwasthereinyou。Idon’tsayIwasproudofyou，myboy。Iwasproudofyou，butthatisnotthewordthatIshouldliketouse。IwasprofoundlygratefulthatIwasprivilegedtohearasermonlikethatfromasonofmine。Now，Barry，"continuedhisfather，"thisisourlastdaytogetherforsomemonths，perhapsforever，"headdedinalowtone。

"Don’t，daddy，don’t，"criedBarry，"Ican’tbeartothinkofthatto—day。"

"Allright，Barry，butwhynot？Itisreallyfarbetterthatweshouldfaceallthepossibilities。Butnowthatwehavethisday——

andwhataperfectdayitis——forourlastdaytogether，whatshallwedowithit？"

"Iknow，dad——Ithinkyouwouldwishthatwetakeourrideintothefoothillsto—day。"

"Itwasinmymind，myboy。Ihesitatedtosuggestit。Soletusgo。"

ItwasoneofthoserareNovemberdaysthatonlyAlbertaknows，mellowwiththewarmsun，andyetwithanipinitthatsuggestedthecomingfrost，withoutarippleofthewindthatalmostconstantlysweepstheAlbertaranges。Intheblueskyhungmotionless，likewhiteshipsatsea，bitsofcloud。Thelonggrass，brown，yellowandgreeninahundredshades，laylikeacarpetovertherollinghillsandwidespreadingvalleys，reachinguponeverysidetothehorizon，excepttowardthewest，whereitfadedintotheblueofthefoothillsatthebasesofthemightyRockies。

Upthelongtrail，resilienttotheirhorses’feet，theycanteredwherethegoingwasgood，orpickedtheirwaywithslowandcarefultreadwheretherockyridgesjuttedthroughtheblacksoil。

Theymadenoefforttorepulsethethoughtthatthiswastheirlastdaytogether，nordidtheyseektobanishthefactofthewar。

Withcalmcourageandhopetheyfacedthefactsoftheirenvironment，seekingtoaideachotherinreadjustingtheirlivestothosefacts。

Theywereresolutelycheerful。Thedaywasnottobespoiledwithtearsandlamentations。Alreadyeachinhisownplaceandtimehadmadehissacrificeofacomradeshipthatwasfardearerthanlife。

Theagonyofthathour，eachhadborneinsilenceandalone。Noshadowshouldfallacrossthissunnyday。

Bythesideofthegrave，initslittlepalisadedenclosure，theylingered，thefatherrecallingthedaysofhisearliermanhood，whichhadbeenbrightenedbyalovewhosefragrancehehadcherishedandsharedwithhissonthroughtheiryearstogether，Barrylisteningwithreverentattentionandtendersympathy。

"IhadalwaysplannedthatItooshouldbelaidhere，Barry，"saidhisfather，astheypreparedtotaketheirdeparture，"butdoyouknow，boy，thiswarhasmademanychangesinmeandthisisone。

Itseemstomeaverylittlethingwheremybodylies，ifitbeoffered，asyouweresayingsobeautifullyyesterday，insacrificetoourcause。"

Barrycouldonlynodhisheadinreply。Hewasdeeplymoved。

"Youareyoung，Barry，"saidhisfather，notinghisemotion，"andlifeisverydeartoyou，myboy。"

"No，dad，no！Notlife，"saidBarrybrokenly。"Notlife，onlyyou，dad。Ijustwantyou，and，ohdad！"continuedtheboy，losingholdofhimselfandmakingnoefforttocheckorhidethetearsthatrandownhisface，"ifoneofusistogointhiswar，——asislikelyenough，——Ionlywantthattheothershouldbethereatthetime。Itwouldbe——terribly——lonely——dad——togooutmyself——

withoutyou。Ortohaveyougoout——alone。——Wehavealwaysbeentogether——andyouhavebeen——soverygoodtome，dad。Ican’thelpthis，dad，——Itry——butIamnotstrongenough——I’mnotholdingbackfromthesacrifice，dad，"hurryinghiswords，——"No，no，notthat，butperhapsyouunderstand。"

Foranswer，hisfatherputbothhisarmsaroundhisson，drewhisheaddowntohisbreast，asifhehadbeenachild。

"There，there，laddie，"hesaid，pattinghimontheshoulder，"I

know，Iknow！OhGod，howIknow。Wehavelivedtogetherveryclosely，withoutashadoweverbetweenus，andmyprayer，sincethiswarbegan，hasbeenthatindeath，ifithadtobe，wemightbetogether，and，Barry，somehowIbelieveGodwillgiveusthat。"

"Goodolddad，goodoldboy！Whatabrickyouare！Icouldn’thelpthat，dad。Forgivemeforbeingababy，andspoilingtheday——"

"Forgiveyou，boy，"stillwithhisarmsaroundhisson，"Barry，I

loveyouforit。You’veneverbroughtmeonesorrownorwillyou。

To—dayandeverydayIthankGodforyou，myson。"

Theyrodebackthroughtheeveningtowardthecamp。Bythetimetheyarrivedthere，thesunhadsunkbehindthemountains，andthequietstarswereridingserenelyabovethebroken，floatingclouds，andintheirheartswaspeace。

CHAPTERVIII

AQUESTIONOFNERVE

"Gentlemen，mayIintroduceCaptainDunbar，yoursky—pilot，padre，chaplain，anythingyoulike？Theysayhe’sadevilofagoodpreacher。TheLordknowsyouneedone。"

SoBarry’scommandingofficerintroducedhimtothemess。

Hebowedindifferentdirectionstothegroupofofficerswho，intheante—roomofthemess，werehavingapre—prandialcocktail。

Barryfoundaplacenearthefootofthetableandforafewminutessatsilent，gettinghisbearings。

Someoftheofficerswereknowntohim。Hehadmetthecommandingofficer，ColonelLeighton，atypical，burlyEnglishman，theownerofanAlbertahorseranch，who，welltodotobeginwith，hadmademoneyduringhisfiveyearsinthecountry。Hehadthereputationofbeingasportingman，ofeasymorality，fondofhisglassandofgoodliving。Heowedhispresentposition，partlytopoliticalinfluence，andpartlytohispreviousmilitaryexperienceintheSouthAfricanwar。Hispopularitywithhisofficerswasduelargelytohiseasydiscipline，andtotheabsenceofthatrigidityofmannerwhichissupposedtogowithhighmilitarycommand，andwhichciviliansarewonttofindsoirksome。

BarryhadalsometMajorBustead，theSeniorMajoroftheBattalion，andPresidentofthemess，aneasternCanadian，withnomilitaryexperiencewhatever，butwithaboundingenergyandambition；theclosefriendandbooncompanionofColonelLeighton，henaturallyhadbecomehissecondincommand。BarrywasespeciallydelightedtoobserveMajorBayne，whomhehadnotseensincehisfirstmeetingwithhimsomemonthsagoontheRedPineTrail。CaptainNeilFraserandLieutenantStewartDuffweretheonlyofficersaboutthetablewhomherecognised，exceptthat，amongthejuniorlieutenants，hecaughtthefaceofyoungDuncanCameron，theoldestsonofhissuperintendent，andafine，clean—lookingyoungfellowheappeared。

AltogetherBarrywasstronglyattractedbytheclean，strongfacesabouthim。Hewouldsurelysoonfindgoodfriendsamongthem，andheonlyhopedhemightbeabletobeofsomeservicetothem。

TheyoungfellowonhisrightintroducedhimselfasCaptainHopeton。HewasayoungEnglishpublicschoolboy，who，thoughafailureasarancher，hadprovedanimmensesuccessinthesocialcirclesofthecity。Becauseofthis，andalsoofhisfamilyconnections"athome，"hehadbeenappointedtoaCivilServiceposition。Aratherboredmannerandasuperciliousairspoiledwhatwouldotherwisehavebeenahandsomeandattractiveface。

Afterasingleremarkaboutthe"beastlybore"ofmilitaryduty，HopetonignoredBarry，givingsuchattentionashehadtosparefromhisdinnertoamanacrossthetable，withwhom，apparently，hehadsharedsomeratherexcitingsocialexperiencesinthecity。

Forthefirsthalfhourofthemeal，theconversationwasofthemosttrivialnature，andwastoBarrysupremelyuninteresting。

"Shoptalk"wasstrictlytaboo，andalsoallreferencetothewar。

Thethinstreamofconversationthattrickledfromliptolipranthegamutofsport，spicedsomewhathighlywithsocietyscandalwhich，eveninthatlittlecity，appearedtoflourish。

ToBarryitwasasifhewereinastrangelandandamongpeopleofastrangetongue。Ofsport，asunderstoodbytheseyoungchaps，heknewlittle，andofscandalhewasentirelyinnocent；somuchsothatmanyofthereferencesthatexcitedthemostmerrimentweretohimutterlyobscure。Aftersomeattemptstointroducetopicsofconversationwhichhethoughtmightbeofmutualinterest，butwhichhadfallenquiteflat，Barrygaveup，andsatsilentwithadesolatingsenseoflonelinessgrowinguponhisspirit。

"Aftertheport，"whensmokingwaspermitted，hewasofferedacigarettebyHopeton，andsurprisedthatyoungmanmightilybysayingthatheneversmoked。Thissurprise，itistobefeared，deepenedintodisgustwhen，afewmomentslater，hedeclinedadrinkfromHopeton’swhiskybottle，whichaservantbroughthim。

Liquorswerenotprovidedatthemess，butofficerswerepermittedtoorderwhattheydesired。

Asthebottlescirculated，tongueswereloosened。Therewasnothingfoulinthetalk，butmoreandmoreprofanity，withfrequentapologytothechaplain，begantodecoratetheconversation。Consciousofadeepeningdisgustwithhisenvironment，andofanoverwhelmingsenseofisolation，Barrycastvainlyaboutforameansofescape。Ofmilitaryetiquettehewasignorant；hencehecouldonlywaitindeepeningdisgustfortheO。C。togivethesignaltorise。Howlonghecouldhaveenduredisdoubtful，butreleasecameinastartling，and，tomostofthemembersofthemess，atrulyhorrifyingmanner。

Inoneofthosestrangesilencesthatfalluponeventhenoisiestofcompanies，ColonelLeighton，undertheinfluenceofasomewhatliberalindulgenceinhiswhiskybottle，begantherelationofataleofverydoubtfulflavour。Inthemidstofthelaughterthatfollowedthetale，Barryrosetohisfeet，hisfacewhiteandhiseyesaflame，andinavoicevibratingwithpassion，said：

"MayIbeexcused，sir？"

"Why，certainly，"saidthecolonelpleasantly，addingafteramoment’shesitation，"isthereanythingwrong，Dunbar？Areyouill？"

"No，sir。"Barry’svoicehadtheresonantqualityofacellostring。"Imean，yes，sir，"hecorrected。"Iamill。Theatmospheresurroundingsuchataleisnauseatingtome。"

Inthehorrifiedsilencethatfollowedhisremark，hewalkedoutfromtheroom。Uponhisears，ashestoodintheante—room，tremblingwiththeviolenceofhispassion，aburstoflaughterfell。Asuddenwrathlikeahotflameswepthisbody。Hewheeledinhistracks，toreopenthedoor，andwithheadhighandfaceset，strodetohisplaceatthetableandsatdown。

Astonishmentbeyondallwordsheldthecompanyintensestillness。

FromBarry’sfacetheylookedtowardthecolonel，who，toodumfoundedforspeechoraction，satgazingathischaplain。ThenfromtheendofthetableafewplacesdownfromBarry，avoicewasheard。

"Feelbetter，Dunbar？"Thecool，clearvoicecutthroughthetensesilencelikethezipofasword。

"Ido，thankyou，sir，"lookinghimstraightintheeye。

"Thefreshair，doubtless，"continuedthecoolvoice。"Ialwaysfindmyselfthatevenawhiffoffreshairisaveryeffectiveantidoteforthreateningvertigo。Irememberonce——"continuedthespeaker，droppingintoaconversationaltone，andleaningacrossthetableslightlytowardBarry，"Iwasintheroomwithacompanyofmen——"Andthespeakerentereduponalongandnonetoointerestingrelationofanexperienceofhis，thepointofwhichnoonegrasped，buttheeffectofwhicheveryonewelcomedwiththeprofoundestrelief。Hewastheregimentalmedicalofficer，atall，slightman，withakeeneye，apleasantfacecrownedbyatopknotofflaminghair，andwithalittledabofhairoflikecolouruponhisupperlip，whichhefondlycherished，asanimportantiteminhismilitaryequipment。

"Say，theolddocisalifesaver，sureenough，"saidayoungsubaltern，answeringtothenameof"Sally，"colloquialforSalford，ashestoodamidacircleofofficersgatheredinthesmokingroomafewminuteslater。"Alifesaver，"repeatedSally，withemphasis。"HecanhavemeforhislaboratorycollectionafterI’mthrough。"

"Heisonesuresingingbird，"saidanothersub，astout，overgrownboybythenameofBooth。"Thenerveofhim，"addedBoothinadmiration。

"Nerve！"echoedayoungcaptain，"butwhataboutthepilot’snerve？"

"Suigeneris，Train，Ishouldsay，"drawledHopeton。

"Suey，whodidyousay？"inquiredSally。"What’shersecondname？

ButletmetellyouIcouldhavefallenonhisneckandburstintotearsofgratitude。Forme，"continuedSally，glancingabouttheroom，"Idon’tholdwiththatdirtstuffatmess。Itisn’tnecessary。"

"Beastlybadform，"saidHopeton，"but，goodLord！YourCommandingOfficer，Sally！There’ssuchathingasdiscipline，youknow。"

"WhatextraordinarythingisitthatSallyknows？"inquiredMajorBustead，wholoungeduptothegroup。

"Wewerediscussingthepadre’sbreak，Major，whichformypart，"

drawledHopeton，"Iconsiderrottendiscipline。"

"Discipline！"snortedthemajor。"ByGad，itwasapieceofthemostdamnablecheekIhaveeverheardatamesstable。HeoughttobesenttoCoventry。IonlyhopetheO。C。willgethimexchanged。"

Themajormadenoefforttosubduehisvoice，whichwasplainlyaudiblethroughouttheroom。

"Hush，forGod’ssake，"warnedCaptainTrain，asBarryenteredthedoor。"Hereheis。"