第13章

"SurelyIwill。You’llbeallright，oldboy，Godblessyou！Goodluck，Ewen！"

Thenleaningovertheboy，headdedinalowvoice，"Rememberyouarenotallalone。Godiswithyou。Youwon’tforgetthat！"

"Iwon’t，sir。Iknowitwell，"saidEwenearnestly。

Mostofthestretchercaseshadbeenhurriedaway。Onlyafewofthemoreseriouslywoundedremained。AsBarryturnedawayfromthecar，hesawthemedicalofficerandsergeantmajorapproachinghim。

"Aterriblebusiness，"saidBarry，inahorror—strickenvoice。

"Splendidchaps。Howpluckytheyare！"

TheM。O。madenoreply，butcomingclosetoBarry，heputhisarmthroughhis，thesergeantmajortakinghimbytheotherarm。

"Isay，Barry，oldchap，"saidtheM。O。inagravevoice，callinghimforthefirsttimebyhisfirstname。"Thereissomeoneherethatyouknowwell。"

"SomeoneIknow，"saidBarry，standingstillandlookingfromonetotheother。

"Ay，sir。Someoneweallknowandgreatlyrespect，"repliedthesergeantmajor。

"Not——not——oh，notmyfather！"

TheM。O。nodded。

"Bad，doctor？Notdying，doctor？"Hisfacewaswhiteeveninspiteofhistan。Hishandsclosedaboutthedoctor’sarminagripthatreachedtothebone。

"No，notdying，Barry，butinabadway，Ifear。"

"Takeme，"mutteredBarry，inadazedway，andtheymovedtogetherrapidlyacrosstheplatform。

"Waitamoment，doctor，"saidBarry，breathinghard。

Theystoodstill，asilentandsympatheticgroupofsoldiersaboutthem。Barryturnedfromthem，walkedafewsteps，hisclaspedhandswrithingbeforehim，thenstoodwithhisfaceupliftedtotheskyforafewmoments。

"Allright，doctor，I’llfollow，"hesaid，comingquietlyback。

"Willheknowme？"

"Surething，sir，"saidthesergeantmajorcheerily。"Hewasaskingforyou。"

Onastretcher，waitingtobeliftedintotheambulance，hefoundhisfather，lyingwhiteandstill。

"Dad！"criedBarry，droppingtohiskneesbesidehim。Heputhisarmsaroundhimonthestretcher，andkissedhimonbothcheeksandonthelips。Theyalldrewbackfromthestretcherandturnedtheirbacksuponthetwo。

"Barry，myboy。ThankthegoodGod！IfearedIwouldnotseeyou。

It’sallrightnow。Everythingisallrightnow。Ican’tputmyarmsaroundyou，boy。Ihaven’tanyleft。"

Barry’sshuddershookthestretcher。

"Dad，dad，oh，dad！"hewhispered，overandoveragain。

"It’sallright，"whisperedhisfather。"Wemustnotforgetwe’resoldiers。Helpmetokeepup，boy。I’mnotverystrong。"

ThatpitifulworddidforBarrywhatnothingelsecoulddo。Heliftedhishead，stoodupanddrewadeepbreath。

"Surething，dad，"hesaid，inaclear，steadyvoice。"Imustn’tkeepyou。"

Hemotionedtothebearers。Thensuddenlyrecollectingthathisdutywouldcallhimawayfromhisfather，heturnedtotheM。O。，anagonyofsupplicationinhisvoice。

"Oh，doctor，mustIleavehimhere？"heaskedinalowtone。

Justthenanorderlycamerunninguptohim，and，saluting，said：

"Sir，theCommandingOfficersaysyouaretoremainbehindwithyourfather——till——till——"

"Untilyouaresentfor，"saidtheM。O。"Iwillseetothat。"

"Where’stheCommandingOfficer？"criedBarry，startingforward。

"Hehasgoneoffsomewheres，sir。Hewassorryhecouldn’tcomehimself，buthewascalledaway。Hesentthatmessagetoyou。"

"Doctor，willyouremembertothanktheCommandingOfficerforme？"hesaidbriefly，andturnedtofollowhisfatherintotheambulance，whichhediscoveredtobeinchargeofhisfriend，thesergeantoftheR。A。M。C。

Atthehospitalhewasreceivedwitheverymarkofsolicitouscare。

Hewasmadetofeelthathewasamongfriends。

"Howlong，doctor？"heasked，afterthedoctorhadfinishedhisexamination。

"Notlong，I’mafraid。Afewhours，perhapsaday。Hewillnotsufferthough，"saidthedoctor。"But，"headded，takingBarrybythearm，"heisveryweak，remember，andmustnotbeexcited。"

"Iknow，doctor，"saidBarry，quietly。"Iwon’tworryhim。"

ThroughthemorningBarrysatbyhisfather’scot，givinghim，underthedirectionsofthenurse，suchstimulantsasheneeded，nowandthenspeakingaquiet，cheeryword。

Oftenhisfatheropenedhiseyesandsmiledathim。

"Goodtoseeyouthere，myboy。Thatwasmyonlygrief。IfearedImightnotseeyouagain。ThankthegoodGodthatheallowedmetoseeyou。"

"Heisgood，dad，isn’tHe？Goodtome；goodtousboth。"

"Yes，Heisgood，"saidhisfather，andfellasleep。Foralmosttwohoursheslept，asleepofexhaustion，duetotheterrificstrainofthepastforty—eighthours，andwokerefreshed，calmandstrong。

"Youarealotbetter，dad，"saidBarry。"Ibelieveyouaregoingtopullthrough，eh！"

"Alotbetter，Barry，"saidhisfather，"but，myboy，wearesoldiers，youandI。Ishallnotbelong，butremember，wearesoldiers。"

"Allright，dad。I’lltrytoplaythegame。"

"That’stheword，Barry。Wemustplaythegame，andbyGod’sgracewewill，youandI——ourlastgametogether。"

Throughtheafternoontheytalked，betweenintervalsofsleep，resolvedeachtohelptheotherinplayingtotheend，inthemannerofBritishsoldiers，thatlast，greatgame。

Theytalked，ofcourse，ofhomeandtheirhappydaystogether，goingfarbackintotheearlieryearsofstruggleontheranch。

"Harddays，Barry，theywere，butyourmotherneverfailedme。

Wonderfulcourageshehad，andifwewereallright，youandI，Barry，shewasalwayshappy。Doyourememberher？"

"Yes，dad，quitewell。Irememberhersmilingalways。"

"Smiling，myGod！Smilingthroughthosedays。Yes，that’sthewaysheplayedthegame，andthat’stheonlyway，boy。"

"Yes，dad，"saidBarry，andhissmilewasbrighterthanever，buthisknucklesshowedwhitewherehegrippedthechair。

Thenursecameandwent，wonderingattheirbrightfacesandtheircheeryvoices。Theykepttheirmindsupontheoldhappydays。

Theyrecalledtheircanoetrips，theirhuntingexperiences，dwellingmostlyuponthehumorousincidents，playingthegame。Ofthewartheyspokelittle；notatallofwhatwastobeafter——thepast，thegolden，happypast，richinloveandincomradeship，thatwastheironetheme。

Asnightfell，thefathergrewweary，andhisperiodsofsleepgrewlonger，buteverashewokehefoundhisson’sfacesmilingdownuponhim。

"Goodboy，Barry，"hesaidonce，withanunderstandinglookandanansweringsmile。"Don’ttrytoohard，myboy。"

"It’sallright，dad。Iassureyouit’sallright。Youknowitis。"

"Iknow，Iknow，myboy，"hesaid，andfellasleepagain。

Asthemidnighthourdrewon，Barry’shead，fromsheerweariness，sunkuponhisbreast。Inhissleephebecameawareofsomeonenearhim。Hesatup，dazedandstupidfromhisexhaustionandhisgrief，andfoundanurseathisside。

"Takethis，"shesaidsoftly。"Youwillneedit。"Shesetatrayathisside。

"Oh，thankyou，no！"hesaid。"Ican’teat。Ican’ttouchanything。"

"Youneedit，"saidthenurse。"Youmusttakeit，forhissake，youknow。Hewillneedyou。"

Hervoicearousedhim。Heglancedatherface。

"Oh，it’syou！"hecried。

ItwasthelittleV。A。D。

"Don’trise，"shesaid，puttingherhandonhisshoulder，andpointingtohisfather。"Drinkthisfirst。"Shehandedhimaneggnog。"Nowtakeyourtea。"Therewasaquietauthorityaboutherthatcompelledobedience。Heateinsilencewhileshestoodbesidehim。Hewastoowearyandtoosickathearttotalk，buthegraduallybecameawarethattheoverpoweringsenseoflonelinessthathadbeenwithhimalldaywasgone。

Whenhehadfinishedhisslightmeal，hewhisperedtoher：

"IwishIcouldthankyou，butIcan’t。Ididneedit。Youhavehelpedmegreatly。"

"Youarebetternow，"shesaidsoftly。"It’svery，veryhardforyou，sofarfromhome，andfromallyourfriends。"

"Thereisnooneelse，"saidBarrysimply。"Wehavenoonebutjustourselves。"

Atthispointhisfatheropenedhiseyesbrightandverywide—

awake。

TheV。A。D。begantogatheruptheteathings。Barryputouthishandandtouchedherarm。

"Dad，thisisyournightnurse。Shewasverykindtomelastnight，andagainto—night。ThisisMissVincent。"

ThebrightnessoftheV。A。D。’ssmileoutshonehisown。

"I’mnotarealnurse，"shesaid。"I’monlyaV。A。D。，youknow。

Theyusemetowashthefloorsanddishes，andforallsortsofoddjobs。To—nighttheyareshorthanded，andhaveputmeonthisduty。"

Whileshewasspeaking，shecontinuedtosmile，asmileofradiantcheerandcourage。

Thewoundedmanlistenedgravelytoher，hiseyessearchingherface，hereyes，herverysoul，itseemedtoher。Inspiteofherexperienceandherself—control，shefeltherfaceflushingunderhissearchinggaze。

"Mydear，"hesaidatlength，"Iamgladtomeetyou。Youareagoodandbravegirl，Iknow。"Hiseyesfellupontheblackbanduponherarm。"Iseeyouarewearingthebadgeofheroism。Mydear，pardonme，youhavethesamelook——Barry，shehasyourdearmother’slook，notsobeautiful——youwillforgiveme，mydear——butthesamelook。Shethinksofothersandshehascouragetosuffer。

Mydear，Icannottakeyourhandsinmine，"——heglancedwithapatheticsmileathisbandagedarms，butwithaswiftmovementofindescribablegracethegirlstoopedandkissedhimontheforehead。

"Barry，"hesaid，turningtohisson，"thatwasafinecourtesy。I

countitanhonourtohaveknownyou，MissVincent。"

Hepausedamomentortwo，hissearchingeyesstilluponherface。

"Youwillbefriendmyboy，after——after——"

"Iwilltrymybest，sir，"saidthegirl，thecolourdeepeninginhercheeksthewhile。"Goodnight，sir，"shesaid。"IshallbenearathandifIamwanted。"

"Barry，"saidhisfather，afterthegirlhadgone，"thatisaverycharmingandaverysuperioryounglady，oneyouwillbegladtoknow。"

"Yes，dad，Iamsuresheis，"saidBarry，andthenhetoldhisfatheroftheeventsofthepreviousnight。

Forsomemomentsafterhehadfinishedhisfatherlaywithhiseyesshut，andquitestill，andBarry，thinkingheslept，satwatching，hiseyesintentuponthefacehelovedbestinalltheworld。

Buthisfatherwasnotasleep。

"Yes，Barry，"hesaid，"sheislikeyourdearmother，andnow，"headdedhurriedly，"IhopeyouwillnotthinkIamtakingaliberty——"

"Oh，dad，Iimploreyou！"saidBarry。

"Barry，Iwouldliketospeaktoyouaboutyourwork。"

Barryshookhisheadsadly。

"I’mnotmuchgood，dad，"hesaid，"butI’mnotgoingtoquit，"headdedquickly，notingashadowonhisfather’sface。

"Barry，I’mgoingtosaysomethingtoyouwhichIdohopewillnothurtyou。Iknowthecommonsoldierbetterthanyoudo，boy。OurCanadiansoldiersdonotliketoberebuked，criticisedorevenwatchedtooclosely。Forgivemethis，myboy。"

"Oh，dad，pleasetellmeallthatisinyourheart！"

"Thankyou，Barry。Theydon’tlikethechaplaintobeacensorovertheirwords。"

"Iloatheit，"saidBarrypassionately。

"Believeme，theyaregoodchapsintheirhearts。Theyswearandallthat，butthatismerelyahabitoramereexpressionofhighemotion。Yououghttohearthemasthey’goover。’Barry，letallthatpassandrememberthattheseboysaregivingtheirlives——

theirlives，Barry，forright，forconscience，andultimately，thoughitmaybeunconsciously，forGod。Barry，amanthatisgivinghislifeforGodmaysaywhathelikes。Don’tbetoohardonthem，butrecalltomind，Barry，thatwhentheygoupthelinetheyfeelterriblylonelyandterriblyafraid，andthatisatrulyawfulexperience。"

Hepausedamomentortwo，andthenloweredhisvoiceandcontinued：

"Barry，youwon’tbeashamedofme。Iwasterriblyafraid，myself。"

Barrychokedbackaconvulsivesob。

"You，dad，you！"Helaughedscornfully。

"Ididn’trun，Barry，thankGod！Buttheboys——myboys——theyareonlylads，manyofthem——lonelyandafraid——andtheymustgoon。

Theymustgoon。Oh，Barry，inthathourtheyneedsomeonetogowiththem。TheyneedGod。"

Hissonwaslisteningwithhisheartinhiseyes。Hewasgettinganewviewofthesoldierandofthesoldier’sneeds。

"Unhappily，"continuedhisfather，"Godisatbestashadowybeing，tomanyofthemastranger，tosomeaterror。Barry，"hesaid，"theyneedsomeonetotellthemthetruthaboutGod。It’snotfairtoGod，youknow。"Hereagainhisfatherpausedandthensaidveryhumbly："IthinkImaysay，Barry，IknowGodnow，asIdidnotbefore。Andyouhelpedme，boy，toknowhim。"

"Oh，dad，"criedBarry，passionately。"NotI！Idon’tknowHimatall！"

"Letmetellyouhowyouhelpedme，Barry。BeforeIwentupthelasttime，Iwanted——"

Hepausedabruptly，hisfaceworkingandhislipquivering。

"Forgiveme，myboy。I’malittleweak。"

Afewmomentsofsilenceandthenhecontinuedquietly：

"Iwantedyou，Barry。"

Theboy’shandswerewrithingunderhisknees，buthisfaceandeyeswerequitesteady。

"Iwasterriblylonely。Ithoughtofthatstrange，dearbondthatheldustogether，andthenlikeaflashoutoftheskycamethosegreatwords：’Likeasafatherpitiethhischildren，’andoh，boy，boy！ItcametomethenthatasIfeeltowardmyboyGodfeelstowardme。Barry，listen——"Hisvoicefelltoawhisper。"IamGod’sson，asyouaremine。Therewasnomorefear，andIwasnotnearlysolonely。Telltheboys——telltheboysthetruthaboutGod。"

Helayalongtimesilent，withhiseyesclosed，andasBarrywatchedhesawtwotearsfalldownthewhitecheeks。Itwastohimaterriblesight。Never，notevenathismother’sgrave，hadheseenhisfather’stears。Itwasmorethanhecouldendure。Heputhisfacedownbesidehisfather’sonthepillow。

"Dad，Iunderstand，"hewhispered。"IknownowwhatGodislike。

Heislikeyou，dad。Hegavehimselfforus，asyou，dad，havegivenyourselfalltheseyearsforme。"

Hewassobbing，butveryquietly。

"Forgiveme，dad；I’mnotcrying。I’mjustthinkingaboutGodandyou。Oh，dad，youarebothwonderful！Wonderful！"

"Barry，myboy，tellthem。Don’tworryyourselfaboutthem。JusttellthemaboutGod。Heisresponsibleforthem，notyou。"

"Oh，Iwill，dad；IpromiseyouIwill。I’vebeenallwrong，butI’lltellthem。I’lltellthem。"

"ThankGod，myboy，"saidhisfather，withadeepsigh。"NowI’mtired。Say’OurFather。’"

Togethertheywhisperedthosegreatestofwordsinhumanspeech，thosewordsthathaveboundheaventoearthinyearningandinhopeforthesetwothousandyears。

"Don’tmove，Barry，"whisperedhisfather。"Ilikeyouthere。"

Withtheirfacesthustogethertheyfellasleep。

Barrywasawakenedbyhisfather’svoice，clearandstrong。

"Areyouthere，Barry？"itsaid。

"Here，dad，righthere！"

"Goodboy。Goodboy。Youwon’tleaveme，Barry。Imeanyoudon’tneedtogo？"

"No，dad，I’llneverleaveyou。"

"Goodboy，"againmurmuredhisfathersoftly。"Alwaysagoodboy，always，always——"

Hewasbreathingheavily，longdeepbreaths。

"Liftmeup，Barry，"hesaid。

Barrysatonthebed，puthisarmaroundhisfather’sshoulders，andliftedhimup。

"That’sbetter——holdmecloser，Barry——Youwon’thurtme——Oh，it’sgood——tofeel——yourarms——strongarms——Barry。"

"Youmadethemstrong，dad，"saidBarry，inaclear，steadyvoice。

Thefathernestledhisheaduponhisson’sshoulder。

"Barry，"hesaidinthelowtoneofonegivingaconfidence，"don’teverforget——tothankGod——fortheseeighteenyears——together——

Yousavedme——fromdespair——eighteenyearsago——whenshewentaway——

youknow——andyouhavebeen——alltheworldtome——myson——"

"Andyoutome，dad，"saidhissoninthesamesteadytone。

"I’vetriedallmylife——tomakeyouknow——howIloveyou——butsomehowIcouldn’t——"

"ButIknew，dad，"saidBarry。"AllmylifeIhaveknown。"

"Really？"askedhisfather。"I——wonder——Idon’tthink——youquiteknow——Ah——myboy——myboy——Youdon’t——know——you——can’t。Barry，"

hesaid，"Ithink——I’mgoingout——I’mgoing——out——no，in——yourword——myboy——in——eh——Barry？"

"Yes，dad，"saidhisson。"Goingin。Theinnercircle，youknow。"

"The——inner——circle——"echoedhisfather。"Warmth——light——love——

Now——Ithink——I’llsleep——Goodnight——Barry——Oh——myboy，——you——

don’tquite——know——Kissme——Barry——"

Barrykissedhimonthelips。

"So——Good——night——"

Adeepbreathhetook；another——Barrywaitedforthenext，buttherewasnotanother。

Helaidhisfatherdownandlookedintohisquietface，touchedevennowwiththenoblestatelinessofdeath。Heputhisarmsabouttheunresponsiveform，andhisfacetothecheekstillwarm。

"Dad，oh，dad，"hewhispered。"Doyouknow——doyouknow——Oh，God，tellhimhowIlovehim。Tellhim！Tellhim！Inevercould。"

ThelittleV。A。D。camesoftlyandstoodlookingfromadistance。

Thencomingtothebedside，shelaidherhandupontheheadandthentheheartofthedeadman。Thenshedrewback，andbeckoningtoanorderly，theyplacedascreenaboutthecot。Shelethereyesrestforamomentortwouponthekneelingboy，thenwentsoftlyaway。

Deathwastoheranalltoofamiliarthing。Shehadoftenseenitunmoved，butto—night，asshewalkedaway，thebrowneyescouldnotholdtheirtears。

CHAPTERXII

AMANOFGOD

Barrywasstandingbesidehisfather’sgrave，inalittleplotintheBoulognecemeterysetapartforBritishofficers。Theyhad，onebyone，goneawayandlefthimuntil，alone，hestoodlookingdownonthesimplewoodencrossonwhichwererecordedthename，age，andunitofthesoldierwiththedateofhisdeath，andunderneaththesimplelegend，eloquentofheroicsacrifice，"Diedofwoundsreceivedinaction。"

Throughoutthesimple，beautifulburialservicehehadnotbeenacutelyconsciousofgrief。Evennowhewonderedthathecouldshednotears。RatherdidanexultantemotionfillhissoulashelookedarounduponthelittleBritishplot，withitsrowsofcrosses，andhewaschieflyconsciousofasolemn，tenderpridethathewaspermittedtosharethatgloriousofferingwhichhisEmpirewasmakingforthesavingoftheworld。But，inthismoment，ashestoodtherealoneclosetohisfather’sgrave，andsurroundedbythoseexamplesofhighcourageanddevotion，hebecameawareofamightychangewroughtinhimduringtheselastthreedays。Hehadexperiencedaveritableemancipationofsoul。

Hewasasifhehadbeenbornanew。

Theoldsenseoffailureinhiswork，thefeelingofunfitnessforit，andtheolddreadofit，hadbeenliftedoutofhissoul，andnotonlywasheanewman，buthefelthimselftobechargedwithanewmission，becausehehadanewmessageforhismen。Nolongerdidheconceivehimselfasamoralpolicemanorreligiouscensor，whosemaindutyitwastostandinjudgmentoverthefaultsandsinsofthemenofhisbattalion。Nomorewouldtheburdenofhismessagebeasterndenunciationofthesefaultsandsins。Standingthereto—day，hecouldonlywonderathisformerblindnessandstupidityandpride。

"WhoamI，"hesaidinbitterself—humiliation，"thatIshouldjudgemycomrades？HowlittleIknewmyself。"

"AmanofGod，"hissuperintendenthadsaidinhislastlettertohim。Yes，trulyamanofGod！AMANnotGod！AMANnottositinGod’splaceinjudgmentuponhisfellowsinners，buttoshowthemGod，theirFather。

Barrythoughtofthefrequentrebukeshehadadministeredtotheofficersandmenforwhatheconsideredtobetheirsins。Hegroanedaloud。

"Godwillforgiveme，Iknow，"hesaid。"Butwillthey？"

Hetriedtorecallwhattheburdenofhismessagetohisbattalionhadbeenduringthesepastmonths，buttohimtherecamenoclearanddistinctmemoryofaughtbutwarningsanddenunciations，withreferencetowhathejudgedtobefaultyintheirconduct。To—dayitseemedtohimbothsadandterrible。

HowhadhesofailedandsomisconceivedtheMaster’splainteaching？HemovedamongsinnersallHisdays，notwithdenunciationsinHisheartorvoice，butonlywithpityandlove。

"Benotanxious，"Hehadsaid。"Considerthebirdsoftheair。

NotoneofthemfallethtothegroundwithoutyourFather。Howmuchmorepreciousareyouthanthebirds。"

Whatamessageformengoinguptofacetheterrorsandperilsofthefrontline。"Benotanxious！"

"Iwasafraid，"hisfatherhadsaidtohim。Thattohimwasinconceivable。Thatthatgallantspiritshouldknowterrorseemedtohimimpossible。Yetevenhehadsaid，"Iwasafraid。"Andfortheloneliness，whatamessagehenowhad。Intheirlonelinessmencriedoutforthepresenceofafriend，andtheMasterhadsaid：

"Whenyepray，praytoyourFather。YourFatherknoweth。Whenyepray，say，’OurFather’！"Andhehadmissedallthis。Whatamesshehadmadeofhiswork！HowsadlymisreadhisMaster’steachingandmisinterpretedhisMaster’sspirit！

Barrylookeddownuponthegraveathisfeet。

"Butyouknew，dad，youknew！"hewhispered。

Forthefirsttimesincehehadbecomeachaplain，hethoughtofhisworkwithgratitudeandeagerness。Helongedtoseehismenagain。Hehadsomethingtotellthem。Itwasthis：thatGodtothemwasliketheirfathers，theirmothers，theirbrothers，theirfriends；onlyinfinitelymoreloving，andwithouttheirfaults。

Withhisheadhighandhisfeetlightupontheearth，hereturnedtotheR。A。M。C。Hospital，wherehefoundHarryHobbs，withhishandbagandaletterfromhisO。C。

"Takeafewdaysoff，"saidtheO。C。"Weallsympathisewithyou。

Wemissyouandshallbegladtoseeyou，buttakeafewdaysnowforyourself。"

Barrywasgreatlytouched，buthehadonlyonedesirenow，andthatwastoreturntohisunit。HisbatmanbroughthimalsoanorderfromtheAssistantDirectorofChaplainServicebiddinghimreportattheearliestmoment。

AtHeadquartershelearnedthattheA。D。C。S。hadbeeninBoulogne，buthadgonetoEtaples，somethirtyorfortymilesdistant，tovisitthelargehospitalsthere。Hedeterminedthatto—morrowhewouldgotoEtaplesandreport，afterwhichhewouldproceedtohisbattalion。

Thatevening，hevisitedthemeninthehospital，cominguponmanyCanadianswhosejoyinseeingachaplainfromtheirowncountrytouchedBarrytotheheart。Hetooktheirmessageswhichhepromisedtotransmittotheirfolksathome，andleftwiththemsomethingofthesereneandexultantpeacethatfilledhisownsoul。

FromEwenInnesandothersoftheWapitidraft，helearnedsomethingofhisfather’sworkandplaceintheirbattalion。

Soldiersarenoteloquentinspeech，butmostlyinsilence。Theirwordshaltedwhentheycametospeakoftheirsergeantmajor’ssoldierlyqualities，——forhisfatherhadbecomethesergeantmajorofthebattalion——hispatience，hisskill，hiscourage。

"Heknewhisjob，sir，"saidoneofthem。"Hewasalwaysontoit。"

"Itwashiscareofhismenthatwethoughtmostof，"saidEwen，whocontinuedtorelateincidentsthathadcomeunderhisownobservationofthischaracteristic，tearsthewhileflowingdownhischeeks。

"Heneverthoughtofhimself，sir。Itwasourcomfortfirst。Hewasfarmorethanoursergeantmajor。Hewatcheduslikeafather；

that’swhathedid。"

AsBarrylistenedtothesoldierstellingofhisfatherinbrokenwords，andwithflowingtears，healmostwonderedatthemfortheirtearsandwonderedathimselfthathehadnone。Tearsseemedtobesomuchoutofplaceintellingsuchataleasthat。

ThetrainforEtaplesleavingatanunearthlyhourinthemorning，BarrywenttotakefarewelloftheV。A。D。thenightbefore。

"Thatisanawfullyearlyhour，"shesaid，"and，oh，suchawretchedtrain。"Therewasinhervoiceanalmostmaternalsolicitudeforhiscomfort。

"That’snothing，"saidBarry。"WhenIseeyouhereatyourunendingwork，itmakesmefeelmoreandmorelikeaslacker。"

"Waitformehereamoment，"shesaid，andhurriedawaytoreturnshortlyinsuchaglowofexcitementasevenherwontedcalmandself—restraintcouldnotquitehide。