There was no more of it. Schaefer's friends after reviving him led him off. As they passed out of the dining hall Larry and his friends were held up by a score or more of men who crowded around him with warm thanks and congratulations. The affair was kept out of the press, but the news of it spread to the limits of clubland. The following day Raeder thought it best that they should lunch again together at the University Club. The great dining-room was full. As Raeder and his company entered there was first a silence, then a quick hum of voices, and finally applause, which grew in volume till it broke into a ringing cheer. There was no longer any doubt as to where the sympathy of the men of the University Club, at least, lay in this world conflict. Two days later a telegram was placed upon Larry's desk. Opening it, he read, “Word just received Jack Romayne killed in action.” Larry carried the telegram quietly into the inner office and laid it upon his chief's desk. “I can stand this no longer, sir,” he said in a quiet voice. “I wish you to release me. I must return to Canada. I am going to the war.” “Very well, my boy,” said Mr. Wakeham. “I know you have thought it over. I feel you could not do otherwise. I, too, have been thinking, and I wish to say that your place will await you here and your salary will go on so long as you are at the war. No! not a word! There is not much we Americans can do as yet, but I shall count it a privilege as an American sympathising with the Allies in their great cause to do this much at least. And you need not worry about that coal mine. Dean has been telling me about it. We will see it through.” CHAPTER XXIV THE MAJOR AND THE MAJOR'S WIFE When Larry went to take farewell of the Wakehams he found Rowena with Hugo Raeder in the drawing-room. “You are glad to leave us,” said Rowena, in a tone of reproach. “No,” said Larry, “sorry. You have been too good to me.” “You are glad to go to war?” “No; I hate the war. I am not a soldier, but, thank God, I see my duty, and I am going to have a go at it.” “Right you are,” said Hugo. “What else could any man do when his country is at war?” “But I hate to go,” said Larry, “and I hate this business of saying good-bye. You have all been so good to me.” “It was easy,” said Rowena. “Do you know I was on the way to fall in love with you? Hugo here and Jane saved me. Oh, I mean it,” she added, flushing as she laughed. “Jane!” exclaimed Larry. “Yes, Jane. Oh, you men are so stupid,” said Rowena. “And Hugo helped me out, too,” she added, with a shy glance at him. Larry looked from one to the other, then rushed to Hugo. “Oh, you lucky beggar! You two lucky beggars! Oh, joy, glory, triumph! Could anything be finer in the wide world?” cried Larry, giving a hand to each. “And, Larry, don't be a fool,” said Rowena. “Try to understand your dear, foolish heart, and don't break your own or any one's else.”