"He is not going," said his mother firmly. "His duty is at home finishing his education, and I am simply amazed at your mother for letting Robert go. Does she not believe in education? Of course I know there are not many who lay the stress on it that I do, but with me it is education first--always." "But the war won't wait," said Emily; "my mother would be very glad to have Bob finish his education, but she's afraid it will be over then." "War or no war, I say let the boys get their education--what is life without it?" Emily surveyed her calmly, and then said, "What would happen to us if every mother held her boy back--what if every mother took your attitude, Mrs. Brunton?" "You need not speculate on that, child, for they won't. Most mothers run with the popular fancy--they go with the crowd--never thinking, but I have always been peculiar, I know." "Oh, mother, cut out that 'peculiar' business--it makes me tired!" said Garth undutifully. When Robert Miller came in to say good-bye, he said: "You'll be lonesome, Garth, when we all go and you are left with the women and the old men--but perhaps you will enjoy being the only young man at the party." "Garth may go later," said his mother,--"at least if the war lasts long enough,--but not as a private. I will not object to his taking the officers' classes at the university." "See, Bob," crowed Garth, "I'll have you and Jim Spaulding for my two batmen over there. But never mind, I'll be good to you and will see that you get your ha'pennyworth of 'baccy and mug of beer regular." Mrs. Brunton laughed delightedly. "Garth always sees the funny side," she cooed. "That certainly is a funny side all right," said Robert, "but he'll never see it! These pasteboard officers never last after they get over--they can only carry it off here. Over there, promotions are on merit, not on political pull." The third, fourth, and fifth contingents went from the university, and still Garth pursued the quest of learning. His mother openly rebuked the mothers of the boys who had gone. "Let the man on the street go! Look at the unemployed men on our streets!" she said; "why aren't they made to go--and leave our university boys at home?" "Every man owes a duty to his country," one of the mothers said. "If one man neglects or refuses to pay, that is no reason for others to do the same. This is a holy war--holier than any of the crusades--for the crusader went out to restore the tomb of our Lord, and that is only a material thing; but our boys are going out to give back to the world our Lord's ideals, and I know they are more precious to Him than any tomb could be!" "My dear Mrs. Mason," said Garth's mother, "you are simply war-mad like so many women--it is impossible to reason with you." A year went by, and many of the university boys were wounded and some were killed. To the mothers of these went Mrs. Brunton with words of sympathy, but came away wondering. Some way they did not seem to receive her warmly.