Bill closed his eyes and seemed to indulge in a beatific vision. Alf did not share his sublime confidence, but even he felt that the campaign had now made a really auspicious start. * * * * * * * When the car was out of sight of the Manor, Allen once more fell a victim of paroxysms of laughter. "Go slow, for Heaven's sake," he gasped, "or I shall fall out." "Stop it!" Isobel commanded sharply. "Stop it at once. I won't have that poor little man sneered at. I think he's a dear, so there." "Cupboard love," Allen retorted, wiping his streaming eyes. "He hasn't given _me_ a million pounds for the Red Cross and he hasn't asked _me_ to dinner, so I'm free to laugh if I want to. Those clothes ... and that furniture ...! If I'd caught your eye again I should have had a fit." Isobel laughed a little herself. "Who can he be?" she asked. "It's rather dreadful that a common little uneducated Cockney like that should have all that money, isn't it? And did you see his friend, who bolted when we arrived?" "Yes--a shy bird in gorgeous plumage. D'you know, I'm sure I've seen that chap Wentworth somewhere before, or some one just like him." "That's funny. I felt just the same. Who can it be?" "Wait a bit--it's coming to me. Why, of course, I've got it. If he had a mustache, he'd be the living image of a silly ass in my platoon, Higgins by name, and so.... I say, what's the matter?" The car gave a violent double lurch as Isobel momentarily seemed to lose control of the steering-wheel. Luckily they were traveling very slowly. Allen leant across her and stopped the car. "Iso," he said, unconsciously using the affectionate abbreviation for the first time, "whatever's the matter? Are you ill? You're as white as a ghost." She ignored his question. "Tell me," she said, "had you really a man in your platoon called Higgins?" "Yes--but why ...?" "And is he really like this Wentworth man?" "Yes. But you can't have seen him." "Only--only in a dream." "What!" "Oh, I know it sounds mad to you; but I had the most dreadful vivid dream about being at the front. I was being shown round the trenches by a couple of Tommies--I'd always said I wanted to see them, you know. I didn't realize ... it was awful.... One of the two Tommies was just like Mr. Wentworth, and was called Higgins. The other's name was--wait a bit--oh, yes, Grant. And then _you_ came into it and.... Denis, don't look like that!" "Grant?" echoed he hoarsely. "Why, it must have been.... Iso, shall I tell you what you said to me when I came round the corner of the trench?" Her eyes dilated; she caught at his arm and nodded silently. "You said, 'It must be a dream. If it isn't, I can't bear it!' Was that it?" She nodded again. She could not speak. Allen felt a strange dryness in his throat. He put his arm round Isobel, and she leant against him trembling. "Then--then you disappeared. I thought I must have been seeing things, but--but...."