“Man!” he would growl, after the usual ineffectual visit to Headquarters. “We’re going to get left. It’ll all be over and done with before we get a look in. Let’s join the Hussars!” “I’m for the London Scottish, my boy, if it’s at all possible. They say they’ll know in a week or two for certain, and we can wait all right. I know such a lot of the fellows there and I’d sooner be among friends. It makes a mighty difference and they’re all good chaps in the Scottish. Besides I’ve a natural yearning for the kilt. If they shut down on us, then we’ll sign on wherever you like.” “Hang it, man! The fun’ll all be over.” “Don’t you believe it, my son. K of K isn’t raking in all these men just to amuse himself. He’s the squarest-headed chap we’ve got, and those eyes of his see a long long way past Tipperary, you bet. We’re up against a jolly tough job and he knows it.... Anyway we’ll be fitter than most when they do take us on. I bet you there aren’t many recruits can down ten out of twelve clays at two hundred yards.” This was Noel’s top score so far. He was rather proud of it and judicious reference to it always had a soothing effect on his feelings. So they strenuously kept up their training, walking all the way in and back whenever they went up to Buckingham Gate for news, and spending much time and money at the shooting-grounds. The girls missed them, of course, but consoled themselves as best they could with one another. They did a round of the links each day for health’s sake, but felt the lack of Noel’s outspoken jibes and Gregor’s curt criticisms and all the subtle excitation and enjoyment of the former times, and learned that golf for duty and golf for pleasure are greens of very different qualities. Still they would not have had it otherwise. The boys were doing their duty as it appeared to them, and it was their portion to miss them and get along as best they could without them. For their sakes they heartily wished Headquarters would make up its mind what it was going to do, and get them settled down to actual work and disciplined courses. For this waiting on and on, with no definite certainty as to the outcome, was wearing on Noel’s temper, and bits of it got out on the loose at home at times and disturbed the atmosphere somewhat.