Mr. Don rises, wincing, and Dick also is at once on his feet, full of compunction. ‘Was that shabby of me? Sorry, father. We are all pretty young, you know, and we can’t help having our fun still.’ ‘I’m glad you still have your fun,’ the father says, once more putting his hands on Dick’s shoulders. ‘Let me look at you again, Dick. There is such a serenity about you now.’ ‘Serenity, that’s the word! None of us could remember what the word was. It’s a ripping good thing to have. I should be awfully bucked if you would have it, too.’ ‘I’ll try.’ ‘I say, how my tongue runs on! But, after all, it was my show. Now, you tell me some things.’ ‘What about, Dick? The war?’ ‘No,’ almost in a shout. ‘We have a fine for speaking about the war. And you know, those fellows we were fighting--I forget who they were?’ ‘The Germans.’ ‘Oh yes. Some of them were on the same side of the veil with us, and they were rather decent; so we chummed up in the end and Ockley took us all away together. They were jolly lucky in getting Ockley. There I go again! Come on, it’s your turn. Has the bathroom tap been mended yet?’ ‘I’m afraid it is--just tied up with that string still, Dick. It works all right.’ ‘It only needs two screw-nails, you know.’ ‘I’ll see to it.’ ‘Do you know whether any one at my tutors got his fives choice this half?’ ‘I’m sorry, Dick, but----’ ‘Or who is the captain of the boats?’ ‘No, I----’ ‘Whatever have you been doing?’ He is moving about the room. ‘Hullo, here’s mother’s workbox! Is mother all right?’ ‘Very sad about you, Dick.’ ‘Oh, I say, that isn’t fair. Why doesn’t she cheer up?’ ‘It isn’t so easy, my boy.’ ‘It’s pretty hard lines on me, you know.’ ‘How is that?’ ‘If you are sad, I have to be sad. That’s how we have got to work it off. You can’t think how we want to be bright.’ ‘I’ll always remember that, and I’ll tell your mother. Ah, but she won’t believe me, Dick; you will have to tell her yourself.’ ‘I can’t do that, father. I can only come to one.’ ‘She should have been the one; she loved you best, Dick.’ ‘Oh, I don’t know. Do you ever,’ with a slight hesitation, ‘see Laura now?’ ‘She is staying with us at present.’ ‘Is she? I think I should like to see her.’ ‘If Laura were to see you----’ ‘Oh, she wouldn’t see me. She is not dressed in black, is she?’ ‘No, in white.’ ‘Good girl! I suppose mother is in black?’ ‘Surely, Dick.’ ‘It’s too bad, you know.’ ‘You weren’t exactly--engaged to Laura, were you, Dick?’ A bold question from a father, but the circumstances were unusual. Apologetically, ‘I never rightly knew.’