Lieutenant Allen had been tramping about all the afternoon, reconnoitering the approaches to the front line in case of trouble. Muddy and hungry and dog-tired, he was now plodding mechanically back to his hole in the ground, while his thoughts wandered vaguely and wistfully to home and his people--and Isobel. At the sound of Bill's whisper he looked up and stopped dead. Clearly his nerves must be beginning to give way, for he seemed to see the subject of his thoughts standing before him in the trench. "My God!" he exclaimed--"Isobel!" She stared at the muddy figure before her for a long moment. Then recognition dawned slowly in her eyes. "You!" she said at last, and her voice seemed to Allen to hold in it all that he most longed for in the world. "Isobel! am I mad or dreaming?" "Oh," she cried, with a sob--"it's a dream. It must be a dream. If it isn't, I can't bear it. It's too awful." The sight of a face she knew had added to the scene the last touch of horror for her. She stood there, the tears glistening in her eyes, passionately pitiful, passionately lovely. The pretty fool of _The Tatler_ pictures had ceased to be, and this glorious woman had risen like the phoenix from her ashes. Denis held his breath for fear his vision would fade.... Meanwhile, the two Tommies had regained the shelter of their dug-out with more speed than grace. "Quick!" said Bill, in a trembling voice. "'Urry up, or she'll give us away, for sure. What a mug you was to tell 'er our names." With a feverish hand, Alf rubbed the Button.... Denis Allen started and rubbed his eyes. "Isobel!" he said once more. But she was gone. * * * * * * * Denis leaned against the side of the trench for support. His heart was thumping against his ribs, and his throat had a strained, parched feeling. He was very badly scared. Strange things do happen to men at the front; small hallucinations, induced by the ceaseless strain on the nerves and senses, are of common occurrence. The eyes play queer tricks sometimes on sentry-go, so that a tuft of grass becomes a lurking sniper. Allen himself could remember one occasion when he had actually seen German infantry advancing stealthily to the attack, and had given the alarm; only to be severely told off by an irate Company Commander for having interrupted his evening meal for nothing.