“No, John, we haven’t,” said Mrs Dare. “It’s just that he’s very young still though he thinks he’s a man, and youth draws to youth. It’s always the way, I expect.” “It wasn’t so with Con, or Lois.” “They had the younger ones--and they were all younger together. Young birds must quit the nest, you know.” “Youth is apt to run to selfishness, it seems to me. I think we’d better take a smaller house.” “We might well do that, but I would be sorry to leave Willstead and all our friends.” XXII Ray went off in full rig first thing in the morning, taking his kit with him, in case, as he thought probable, he should be ordered to join his company at once. Vic and Honor had business in town, so they went with him and Lois to the station, where they found Noel and Gregor marching impatiently about the platform for the train to come in. “You can’t travel with us, you know,” said Noel. “We go third. Officers----” “Thanks, my child! ‘Out of the mouths of babes----’” “The girls will of course follow the uniform,” said Noel, while Gregor grinned hopefully. “Of course,” said Honor, and they got in with Ray. He leaned out of the window for a last word with Lois, who was going up later to do some shopping; and then they were gone, and she stood watching the joggling end carriage till it was out of sight, and wondered forlornly if she would ever see him again. She was still standing watching, with an odd little feeling in her heart that when she turned away it would be like cutting the last link with the happy past and turning to face the anxious future, which stood waiting peremptorily just behind her, when the down-train ran in. She turned with a sigh that was almost a sob, and went out into the road. Her eyes were misty as she went. It was the beginning of partings, and if he went to the front, as he most assuredly would if the rest went, it might be the beginning of the end. And life was just at its fullest with them, just opening its fairest white flowers. They were so very happy,--and would have been happier still, if this hideous war had not come. But she must be brave. Ray was feeling it just as much as she was. But he had gone to his duty with high heart and quiet face, and she must do no less. But it was hard, hard, hard, to part with him so soon. God help them both! They were in His hands, and she must cling to that with might and main. “Lois!”--and she turned quickly and found Alma hurrying to come up with her. But a much-altered Alma. The beautiful face, which used to be all agleam with the joy of life,--the gracious curving mouth, where quick smiles and ready laughter used to hover,--the eloquent eyes which caught your thought in advance of your words,--they were all there but frozen to the semblance of a marble saint. Lois caught her breath at the change in her. “Am I too late? Has he gone?” panted Alma.