Presently, and within a space of time almost incredible, the artillery moved off into the darkness. He could hear the rhythmical trample of horses, the crunch of wheels, sabres rattling, the subdued clank and clatter of a field battery on the march. But he could see no lights, distinguish no loud voices, no bugle-calls. Now and then a clear whistle note sounded; now and then a horse snorted, excited by the open air. The car in which they were was now detached and sidetracked; the long train backed slowly past and away into the darkness. And after a while another locomotive came steaming out of the obscurity ahead; he heard them coupling it to the car in which he sat. The jar did not awaken Karen. Presently they were in motion again; the tiled roof of an unlighted railway station glided past the window; stars appeared, trees, a high dark hill to the right. A military guard came through the corridor, lantern in hand, and told Guild that the car was now entirely empty and at his disposal. So he rose and went forward where he could look out ahead and see the dull glow of the smokestack and the ruddy light of the furnace. For a long while he stood there watching the moving silhouettes of engineer and fireman. The sombre red light trembled on the rails and swept the wayside trees or painted with fiery streaks the sides of a cut or glittered along the rocky wet walls of tunnels. When at last he went back to the compartment, Karen was sitting up, twisting her hair into shape. "Do you feel rested?" he asked cheerfully, seating himself beside her. "Yes, thank you. Where are we, Kervyn?" "I don't know." She was still busy with her hair, but her eyes remained on him. "Can I do anything for you? Do you need anything?" he asked. "I seem to need almost everything!" she protested, "including a bath and a clergyman. Oh, Kervyn, _what_ a wedding journey! Is there anything about me that resembles a bride? And I'm not even that, yet--just a crumpled, soiled, disreputable child!" "You are absolutely adorable just as you are!" "No! I am unspeakable. And I want to be attractive to you. I really can be very nice-looking, only you never saw me so----" "Dearest!" "I haven't had any clothes since I first met you!" she said excitedly. "You know I can scarcely bear it to have you think of me this way. Will I have time to buy a gown in Antwerp? How long will it take us to marry each other? Because, of course, I shall not let you ride away with your regiment until you are my husband." She flushed again, and the tears sprang to her eyes. It was plain that her nerves had given way under the long strain. "Kervyn! Only yesterday war meant almost nothing to me. And look at me now!--look at the girl you saw in England only a few days ago!--a woman today!--a wife tomorrow, please God--and the fear of this war already overwhelming me."