Nicholas and Alix lay languidly, in fraternal silence, in their chairs. They never went to bed or did anything else with Daphne's prompt decision. At a quarter past twelve Alix said, 'I'm thinking of joining this funny society of mother's.' Nicholas opened his small blue eyes at her. 'You are? I didn't know you joined things.' 'Nor did I,' said Alix. 'But I'm beginning to believe I do.... I think I shall very probably join the Church, too, before long.' Nicholas opened his eyes much wider, and sat up straight. 'The _Church_? The Church of England, do you mean?' 'I suppose that would be my branch, as I live in England. Just the Christian Church, I mean.... Do you think mother'll mind much?' Nicholas cogitated over this. 'Probably,' he concluded. 'She doesn't like it, you know. She thinks it stands for darkness.' 'That's so funny,' said Alix, 'when really it seems to me to stand for all the things she stands for--and some more, of course.' 'Exactly,' Nicholas agreed. 'It's the "more" she takes exception to.' 'Oh well,' Alix sighed a little. 'Mother's very large-minded, really. She'll get used to it.' Nicholas was looking at her curiously, but not unsympathetically. 'Why these new and sudden energies?' he inquired presently. 'If you don't mind my asking?' 'It's what I told you once before,' Alix explained, and the memory of that anguished evening attenuated her clear, indifferent voice, making it smaller and fainter. 'As I can't be fighting in the war, I've got to be fighting against it. Otherwise it's like a ghastly nightmare, swallowing one up. This society of mother's mayn't be doing much, but it's _trying_ to fight war; it's working against it in the best ways it can think of. So I shall join it.... Christianity, so far as I can understand it, is working against war too; must be, obviously. So I shall join the Church.... That's all.' 'H'm.' Nicholas looked dubious. 'Not quite all, I fancy. There are things to believe, you know. You'll have to believe them--some of them, anyhow.' 'I suppose so. I dare say it's not so very difficult, is it?' 'Very, I believe. I've never tried personally, but so I am told by those who have.' 'Oh well, I don't care. Lots of quite stupid people seem to manage it, so I don't see why I shouldn't. I shall try, anyhow. I think it's worth it,' said Alix with determination. 'Well,' said Nicholas, after a pause, 'I dare say you're right. Right to try things, I mean. I suppose it's more intelligent.' For a moment the paradox in the faces of both brother and sister was resolved, and idealism wholly dominated cynicism. 'Well,' said Nicholas again, 'here's luck!' He finished his punch. It had, as he had said, too many pips, so that he drank with care and rejections rather than hope. CHAPTER XVII NEW YEARS EVE 1