Long before Charles got back she was feeling quite aged and worn with overmuch thinking. CHAPTER XXIX GRACIE'S DILEMMA "One on 'em's up in his room, but I dunnot know which," grunted old Mrs. Lee, in answer to Eager's request for the boys, either or both, and he went up at once. A tap on Jim's door received no answer. Jack's opened to him at once. "Mr. Eager!" And there was a hungry look in the boy's eyes. "Hard at work, old chap?"--at sight of a number of books spread out on the table. "I thought this was holidays with you." "I tried, but I couldn't get down to it." "Where's Jim?" "He's off down along--couldn't it still. Have you brought us any word from Gracie?"--very anxiously. "Well, I've come to have a talk with you about that." And the Rev. Charles pulled out his pipe and began to fill it. "You ought to have spoken to me first, you know----" "Oh?--didn't know--not used to that kind of thing, you know." "I suppose not. Still, that is the proper way to go about it." "What does Gracie say?" asked Jack impatiently. "I've come to ask you both, Jack, to let the matter lie for a time." And Jack's foot beat an impatient tattoo. "You see, Gracie had no idea whatever of this, and it has knocked the wind out of her. You can't imagine how upset she is. First, she thought you were joking. Then she had a good cry, and now I've left her staring into the fire, fearing you can never all be friends again as you always have been." "Why, of course we can!" "I told her so, but she says things can never be the same." "We don't want them the same." "No, I know. But you see, Jack, Gracie has not been thinking of you two in that way; and in the way she has always thought of you, as her dearest friends, she likes the one of you just as much as the other." Jack grunted. "After this it will be impossible for her to regard you simply as friends. But you must give her time----" "Is there any one else?" growled Jack. "There is no one else. I asked her." "And--how--long----" "To name a time, I should say a year." "A great deal may happen in a year. We may all be dead." "The chances are that this will be a year of great happenings," said Eager gravely. "The issues are in God's hands. May He grant us all a safe deliverance!" "You really think it will be war?" asked the boy quickly. "I fear so!" Jack sat gazing steadily into the fire and limned coming glories in the dancing flames. "A year's a terrible long time to wait when you feel like a starving dog. But if there's a war . . . yes--that would make it pass quicker." "Have you said anything to your grandfather about this matter?" "How could we till we knew which----" Eager nodded. "Best leave it so at present. How soon will Jim be back? I'd like to have a word with him too." "I don't know. He's a good deal worked up." "I'll go along and meet him." "I'll come too?"