"Joan's book did most of that, not me," admitted Archie, flushing. "Though of course I'm going to pay her back." "Don't," said the other. "_Don't!_ Why not?" "Our only hold upon such as Joan is--our need of them." Archie ruminated upon this in silence. "I get you," he said at last. "Let 'em think we're sort of helpless, like--like children, eh? But it's pretty hard accepting money from a woman!" "Why? When we have consented to accept life itself from a woman--Where there is love there is no debt, Blair!" "I guess that's right," said Archie slowly. "What's mine is hers of course; and so what's hers is mine--But speaking of the war--" It happened that they had not been speaking of the war at all, though it hung in the background of their talk, grim and menacing, as it hung in the background of all talk just then. "Yes, Blair?" "We're getting into it at last, thank God! And as soon as we do, I'm going." "Of course," said Nikolai. Archie turned to him eagerly. "You think I've got a right to go?" "So much of a right that I've come out here largely to see how I can help you--Of course you know," he added after a moment's hesitation, "that anything I have will go some day to my namesake Stefan?" "Say, that's great!" cried Archie, beaming. "That makes me mighty easy about the future! And the present's all right, too. I'm pretty sure of getting a commission, and Joan makes more money than I do now. The thing that's been troubling me is wondering how _you'd_ ever get paid back.... I'm pretty tall for the trenches," he explained. "And I seem to get sort of careless when I'm excited--the Irish coming out on me, I reckon. The chances are against my coming back. And in that case all you'd get would be--Joan." A silence fell. "And the kid, of course--He's a pretty nice little fellow," Archie added tentatively. "I don't suppose he'd be much of a--drawback?" "On the contrary," said Nikolai. "I think he might be considered interest on the investment!" Archie laughed with relief. "I tell you, it makes me feel pretty comfortable to know that whatever happens to me they'll be safe! And to know that you'll be taking care of her, sir. She needs a good deal of taking care of, too--though she don't know it. Thinks she's as independent as a little pig on ice. But they're none of 'em independent, Mr. Nikolai--take it from me! They've got to be humored, and teased, and exercised, and petted--and the smarter they are the more petting they need. This high-brow business seems to leave people sort of lonesome in their hearts--you know what I mean?" "Yes," said Nikolai, "I know what you mean--I shall accept your legacy gladly, Blair, if I am here to accept it. But--I am going to the war, myself. Not into the trenches, no. Into Russia." Archie protested as Joan had. "But I thought Russia was not safe for you!"