The Sherwoods were mustered in Trent Park. A noble array they made, splendid men, well mounted and equipped, eager to get at the foe. Captain Alan Chesney was with them, his house the headquarters of the regiment. They had not to wait long; they were in luck's way, one of the first cavalry regiments ordered to the front. Alan, busy preparing for his departure, had barely a minute to spare, but he made time to call on a few friends, and Eve Berkeley was one of the last. He rode to The Forest in uniform, looking every inch a soldier. He stood in the room waiting for her, his fingers drummed impatiently on the mantelpiece; he wanted to be away, the fighting spirit of the soldier was roused again when he put on khaki. He longed for war--and the front. For some years he had been a peace soldier, spending money freely, having plenty of spare time, although he was never a laggard and loved the drill and discipline. Now it was different; they were off to the front, where the battle already raged furiously and danger threatened France, as in the former war and from the same source, with many times the strength. Eve came in. She looked at her best. She knew he was coming and had been thinking of him. There was danger ahead for the man she loved; it was possible she might not see him again. She dare not think of that, it was terrible. He turned round quickly and came to her, taking both her hands. Looking into her eyes he could not fail to see the light in them; it dazzled but did not blind; it opened his to what was hidden behind the electric flashes in hers. For a few moments there was silence. Then he said: "I am come to say goodbye, Eve, my old playmate, my best friend." His voice was well under control, no tremor, but it vibrated and played on her heart-strings. She was agitated; she had been counting on this parting, thinking what might happen, re-changing many things. "We leave to-morrow, or the next day. I go to London to-night. I cannot tell you our destination, but I can guess it." Still she did not speak, and he went on: "We shall give a good account of ourselves, the Sherwoods. Many of us will not return, but something tells me I shall come through it all and live." "How I shall miss you!" she said. "It will be in fear and trembling I open the paper each morning and scan the lists. But you are doing right; no man can hang back at such a moment. You are glad to be in uniform again?" "Indeed I am. I feel as though I had never been out of it," he answered. "You look splendid," she said. "This morning you are at your best," he replied. "You were coming to see me, I wanted you to carry away a good impression," she said, smiling. "I shall often think of you, Eve, and your many gracious actions. By Jove, you are a brick--there's nobody like you," he said enthusiastically. She was pleased and showed it. "Have you forgotten our last conversation?" he asked. "It was perilously near the danger zone."