\"Ifhedies，Dad——\"shewhispered。
\"HewillhavediedfortheCountry，mylove，asmuchaseveroursoldiersdo。\"
\"Iknow;butthat’snocomfort。I’vebeenwatchinghereallday;
I’vebeenthinking;menwillbejustasbrutalafterwards——morebrutal。Theworldwillgoonthesame。\"
\"Wemusthopenot。Shallwepray，Gracie？\"
Gratianshookherhead。
\"IfIcouldbelievethattheworld——ifIcouldbelieveanything！
I’velostthepower，Dad;Idon’tevenbelieveinafuturelife。IfGeorgedies，weshallnevermeetagain。\"
Piersonstaredatherwithoutaword。
Gratianwenton:\"Thelasttimewetalked，IwasangrywithGeorgebecausehelaughedatmybelief;nowthatIreallywantbelief，I
feelthathewasright。\"
Piersonsaidtremulously:
\"No，no，mydear;it’sonlythatyou’reoverwrought。GodinHismercywillgiveyoubackbelief。\"
\"ThereisnoGod，Dad\"
\"Mydarlingchild，whatareyousaying？\"
\"NoGodwhocanhelpus;Ifeelit。IftherewereanyGodwhocouldtakepartinourlives，alteranythingwithoutourwill，kneworcaredwhatwedid——Hewouldn’tlettheworldgoonasitdoes。\"
\"But，mydear，Hispurposesareinscrutable。WedarenotsayHeshouldnotdothisorthat，ortrytofathomtowhatendsHeisworking。\"
\"ThenHe’snogoodtous。It’sthesameasifHedidn’texist。WhyshouldIprayforGeorge’slifetoOnewhoseendsarejustHisown？
IknowGeorgeoughtn’ttodie。Ifthere’saGodwhocanhelp，itwillbeawickedshameifGeorgedies;ifthere’saGodwhocanhelp，it’sawickedshamewhenbabiesdie，andallthesemillionsofpoorboys。Iwouldratherthinkthere’snoGodthanahelplessorawickedGod——\"
Herfatherhadsuddenlythrownuphishandstohisears。Shemovedcloser，andputherarmroundhim。
\"Daddear，I’msorry。Ididn’tmeantohurtyou。
Piersonpressedherfacedowntohisshoulder;andsaidinadullvoice:
\"Whatdoyouthinkwouldhavehappenedtome，Gracie，ifIhadlostbeliefwhenyourmotherdied？Ihaveneverlostbelief。PrayGodI
nevershall！\"
Gratianmurmured:
\"GeorgewouldnotwishmetopretendIbelieve——hewouldwantmetobehonest。IfI’mnothonest，Ishan’tdeservethatheshouldlive。
Idon’tbelieve，andIcan’tpray。\"
\"Mydarling，you’reovertired。\"
\"No，Dad。\"Sheraisedherheadfromhisshoulderand，claspingherhandsroundherknees，lookedstraightbeforeher。\"Wecanonlyhelpourselves;andIcanonlybearitifIrebel。\"
Piersonsatwithtremblinglips，feelingthatnothinghecouldsaywouldtouchherjustthen。Thesickman’sfacewashardlyvisiblenowinthetwilight，andGratianwentovertohisbed。Shestoodlookingdownathimalongtime。
\"Goandrest，Dad;thedoctor’scomingagainateleven。I’llcallyouifIwantanything。Ishallliedownalittle，besidehim。\"
Piersonkissedher，andwentout。Tolietherebesidehimwouldbethegreatestcomfortshecouldget。Hewenttothebarenarrowlittleroomhehadoccupiedeversincehiswifedied;and，takingoffhisboots，walkedupanddown，withafeelingofalmostcrushingloneliness。Bothhisdaughtersinsuchtrouble，andheofnousetothem！ItwasasifLifewerepushinghimutterlyaside！Hefeltconfused，helpless，bewildered。SurelyifGratianlovedGeorge，shehadnotleftGod’sside，whatevershemightsay。Then，consciousoftheprofoundheresyofthisthought，hestoodstillattheopenwindow。
Earthlylove——heavenlylove;wasthereanyanalogybetweenthem？
>FromtheSquareGardenstheindifferentwhisperoftheleavesanswered;andanewsvendoratthefarend，bawlinghisnightlytaleofmurder。
3
GeorgeLairdpassedthecrisisofhisillnessthatnight，andinthemorningwaspronouncedoutofdanger。Hehadasplendidconstitution，and——Scotsmanonhisfather’sside——afightingcharacter。Hecamebacktolifeveryweak，butavidofrecovery;andhisfirstwordswere:\"I’vebeenhangingovertheedge，Gracie！\"
Averyhighcliff，andhisbodyhalfover，balancing;oneinch，themerestfractionofaninchmore，andoverhewouldhavegone。Deucedrumsensation！Butnotsohorribleasitwouldhavebeeninreallife。Withtheslipofthatlastinchhefelthewouldhavepassedatonceintooblivion，withoutthelonghorrorofafall。Sothiswaswhatitwasforallthepoorfellowshehadseenslipinthepasttwoyears！Mercifully，attheend，onewasnotaliveenoughtobeconsciousofwhatonewasleaving，notaliveenougheventocare。Ifhehadbeenabletotakeinthepresenceofhisyoungwife，abletorealisethathewaslookingatherface，touchingherforthelasttime——itwouldhavebeenhell;ifhehadbeenuptorealisingsunlight，moonlight，thesoundoftheworld’slifeoutside，thesoftnessofthebedhelayon——itwouldhavemeantthemostpoignantanguishofdefraudment。Lifewasararegoodthing，andtobesquashedoutofitwithyourpowersatfull，awretchedmistakeinNature’sarrangements，awretchedvillainyonthepartofMan——forhisowndeath，likeallthoseothermillionsofprematuredeaths，wouldhavebeenduetotheidiocyandbrutalityofmen！Hecouldsmilenow，withGratianlookingdownathim，buttheexperiencehadheapedfuelonafirewhichhadalwayssmoulderedinhisdoctor’ssoulagainstthathalfemancipatedbreedofapes，thehumanrace。
Well，nowhewouldgetafewdaysofffromhisdeath—carnival！Andhelay，feastinghisreturningsensesonhiswife。Shemadeaprettynurse，andhispractisedeyejudgedheragoodone——firmandquiet。
GeorgeLairdwasthirty。AttheopeningofthewarhewasinanEast—Endpractice，andhadvolunteeredatonceforservicewiththeArmy。Forthefirstninemonthshehadbeenrightupinthethickofit。Apoisonedarm;ratherthantheauthorities，hadsenthimhome。
DuringthatleavehemarriedGratian。HehadknownthePiersonssometime;and，madeconsciousoftheinstabilityoflife，hadresolvedtomarryheratthefirstchancehegot。Forhisfather—in—lawhehadrespectandliking，evermixedwithwhatwasnotquitecontemptandnotquitepity。Theblendofauthoritywithhumility，clericwithdreamer，monkwithartist，mysticwithmanofaction，inPierson，excitedinhimaninterested，butoftenirritated，wonder。Hesawthingssodifferentlyhimself，andhadlittleofthehumorouscuriositywhichenjoyswhatisstrangesimplybecauseitisstrange。
Theycouldnevertalktogetherwithoutsoonreachingapointwhenhewantedtosay:\"Ifwe’renottotrustourreasonandoursensesforwhatthey’reworth，sir——willyoukindlytellmewhatwearetotrust？Howcanweexertthemtotheutmostinsomematters，andinotherssuddenlyturnourbacksonthem？\"Once，inoneoftheirdiscussions，whichoftenborderedonacrimony，hehadexpoundedhimselfatlength。
\"Igrant，\"hehadsaid，\"thatthere’sagreatultimateMystery，thatweshallneverknowanythingforcertainabouttheoriginoflifeandtheprincipleoftheUniverse;butwhyshouldwesuddenlyshutupourenquiringapparatusanddenyalltheevidenceofourreason——say，aboutthestoryofChrist，orthequestionofafuturelife，orourmoralcode？Ifyouwantmetoenteratempleoflittlemysteries，leavingmyreasonandsensesbehind——asaMohammedanleaveshisshoes——itwon’tdotosaytomesimply:’Thereitis！Enter！’Youmustshowmethedoor;andyoucan’t！AndI’lltellyouwhy，sir。
Becauseinyourbrainthere’salittletwistwhichisnotinmine，orthelackofalittletwistwhichisinmine。Nothingmorethanthatdividesusintothetwomainspeciesofmankind，oneofwhomworships，andoneofwhomdoesn’t。Oh，yes！Iknow;youwon’tadmitthat，becauseitmakesyourreligionsnaturalinsteadofwhatyoucallsupernatural。ButIassureyouthere’snothingmoretoit。
Youreyeslookuportheylookdown——theyneverlookstraightbeforethem。Well，minedojusttheopposite。\"
ThatdayPiersonhadbeenfeelingverytired，andthoughtomeetthisattackwasvital，hehadbeenunabletomeetit。Hisbrainhadstammered。Hehadturnedalittleaway，leaninghischeekonhishand，asiftocoverthatmomentarybreakinhisdefences。Somedayslaterhehadsaid:
\"Iamablenowtoansweryourquestions，George。IthinkIcanmakeyouunderstand。\"
Lairdhadanswered:\"Allright，sir;goahead。\"
\"Youbeginbyassumingthatthehumanreasonisthefinaltestofallthings。Whatrighthaveyoutoassumethat？Supposeyouwereanant。Youwouldtakeyourant’sreasonasthefinaltest，wouldn’tyou？Wouldthatbethetruth？\"Andasmilehadfixeditselfonhislipsabovehislittlegravebeard。
GeorgeLairdalsohadsmiled。
\"Thatseemsagoodpoint，sir，\"hesaid，\"untilyourecognisethatI
don’ttake，thehumanreasonasfinaltestinanyabsolutesense。I
onlysayit’sthehighesttestwecanapply;andthat，behindthattestallisquitedarkandunknowable。\"
\"Revelation，then，meansnothingtoyou？\"
\"Nothing，sir。\"
\"Idon’tthinkwecanusefullygoon，George。\"
\"Idon’tthinkwecan，sir。Intalkingwithyou，Ialwaysfeellikefightingamanwithonehandtiedbehindhisback。\"
\"AndI，perhaps，feelthatIamarguingwithonewhowasblindfrombirth。\"
Forallthat，theyhadoftenarguedsince;butneverwithoutthosepeculiarsmilescomingontheirfaces。Still，theyrespectedeachother，andPiersonhadnotopposedhisdaughter’smarriagetothisheretic，whomheknewtobeanhonestandtrustworthyman。IthadtakenplacebeforeLaird’sarmwaswell，andthetwohadsnatchedamonth’shoneymoonbeforehewentbacktoFrance，andshetoherhospitalinManchester。Sincethen，justoneFebruaryfortnightbytheseahadbeenalltheirtimetogether……
Intheafternoonhehadaskedforbeeftea，and，havingdrunkacup，said:
\"I’vegotsomethingtotellyourfather。\"
Butwarnedbythepallorofhissmilinglips，Gratiananswered:
\"Tellmefirst，George。\"
\"Ourlasttalk，Gracie;well——there’snothing——ontheotherside。I
lookedover;it’sasblackasyourhat。\"
Gratianshivered。
\"Iknow。Whileyouwerelyingherelastnight，Itoldfather。\"
Hesqueezedherhand，andsaid:\"Ialsowanttotellhim。\"
\"Dadwillsaythemotiveforlifeisgone。\"
\"Isayitleapsoutallthemore，Gracie。Whatamesswemakeofit——weangel—apes！Whenshallwebemen，Iwonder？YouandI，Gracie，willfightforadecentlifeforeverybody。Nohands—uppingaboutthat！Benddown！It’sgoodtotouchyouagain;everything’sgood。
I’mgoingtohaveasleep……\"
Afterthereliefofthedoctor’sreportintheearlymorningPiersonhadgonethroughahardstruggle。WhatshouldhewiretoNoel？Helongedtogetherbackhome，awayfromtemptationtotheburningindiscretionofthismarriage。ButoughthetosuppressreferencetoGeorge’sprogress？Wouldthatbehonest？Atlasthesentthistelegram:\"Georgeoutofdangerbutveryweak。Comeup。\"
Bytheafternoonpost，however，hereceivedaletterfromThirza:
\"IhavehadtwolongtalkswithNoelandCyril。Itisimpossibletobudgethem。AndIreallythink，dearEdward，thatitwillbeamistaketoopposeitrigidly。Hemaynotgooutassoonaswethink。
Howwoulditbetoconsenttotheirhavingbannspublished？——thatwouldmeananotherthreeweeksanyway，andinabsencefromeachothertheymightbeinfluencedtoputitoff。I’mafraidthisistheonlychance，forifyousimplyforbidit，Ifeeltheywillrunoffandgetmarriedsomewhereataregistrar’s。\"
PiersontookthisletteroutwithhimintotheSquareGarden，forpainfulcogitation。Nomancanholdapositionofspiritualauthorityforlongyearswithoutdevelopingthehabitofjudgment。
HejudgedNoel’sconducttobeheadlongandundisciplined，andtheveinofstubbornnessinhischaracterfortifiedthefatherandthepriestwithinhim。Thirzadisappointedhim;shedidnotseemtoseetheirretrievablegravityofthishastymarriage。Sheseemedtolookonitassomethingmuchlighterthanitwas，toconsiderthatitmightbelefttoChance，andthatifChanceturnedoutunfavourable，therewouldstillbeawayout。Tohimtherewouldbenowayout。
Helookedupatthesky，asifforinspiration。Itwassuchabeautifulday，andsobittertohurthischild，evenforhergood！
Whatwouldhermotherhaveadvised？SurelyAgneshadfeltatleastasdeeplyashimselftheuttersolemnityofmarriage！And，sittingthereinthesunlight，hepainfullyhardenedhisheart。Hemustdowhathethoughtright，nomatterwhattheconsequences。Sohewentinandwrotethathecouldnotagree，andwishedNoeltocomebackhomeatonce。
V
1
Butonthesameafternoon，justaboutthathour，Noelwassittingontheriver—bankwithherarmsfoldedtightacrossherchest，andbyhersideCyrilMorland，withdespairinhisface，wastwistingatelegram\"Rejointonight。Regimentleavesto—morrow。\"
Whatconsolationthatamillionsuchtelegramshadbeenreadandsorrowedovertheselasttwoyears！Whatcomfortthatthesunwasdailyblotteddimforhundredsofbrighteyes;thejoyoflifepouredoutandsoppedupbythesandsofdesolation！
\"Howlonghavewegot，Cyril？\"
\"I’veengagedacarfromtheInn，soIneedn’tleavetillmidnight。
I’vepackedalready，tohavemoretime。\"
\"Let’shaveittoourselves，then。Let’sgooffsomewhere。I’vegotsomechocolate。\"
Morlandansweredmiserably:
\"Icansendthecaruphereformythings，andhaveitpickmeupattheInn，ifyou’llsaygoodbyetothemforme，afterwards。We’llwalkdowntheline，thenweshan’tmeetanyone。\"
Andinthebrightsunlighttheywalkedhandinhandoneachsideofashiningrail。AboutsixtheyreachedtheAbbey。
\"Let’sgetaboat，\"saidNoel。\"Wecancomebackherewhenit’smoonlight。Iknowawayofgettingin，afterthegate’sshut。\"
Theyhiredaboat，rowedovertothefarbank，andsatonthesternseat，sidebysideunderthetreeswherethewaterwasstaineddeepgreenbythehighwoods。Iftheytalked，itwasbutawordoflovenowandthen，ortodraweachother’sattentiontoafish，abird，adragon—fly。Whatusemakingplans——forloversthechieftheme？
Longingparalysedtheirbrains。Theycoulddonothingbutpressclosetoeachother，theirhandsenlaced，theirlipsmeetingnowandthen。OnNoel’sfacewasastrangefixedstillness，asifshewerewaiting——expecting！Theyatetheirchocolates。Thesunset，dewbegantofall;theriverchanged，andgrewwhiter;theskypaledtothecolourofanamethyst;shadowslengthened，dissolvedslowly。Itwaspastninealready;awater—ratcameout，awhiteowlflewovertheriver，towardstheAbbey。Themoonhadcomeup，butshednolightasyet。Theysawnobeautyinallthis——tooyoung，toopassionate，toounhappy。
Noelsaid:\"Whenshe’soverthosetrees，Cyril，let’sgo。It’llbehalfdark。\"
Theywaited，watchingthemoon，whichcreptwithinfiniteslownessupandup，brighteningeversolittleeveryminute。
\"Now！\"saidNoel。AndMorlandrowedacross。
Theylefttheboat，andsheledthewaypastanemptycottage，toashedwitharoofslopinguptotheAbbey’slowouterwall。
\"Wecangetoverhere，\"shewhispered。
Theyclamberedup，andover，toapieceofgrassycourtyard，andpassedontoaninnercourt，undertheblackshadowofthehighwalls。
\"What’sthetime？\"saidNoel。
\"Half—pastten。\"
\"Already！Let’ssithereinthedark，andwatchforthemoon。\"
Theysatdownclosetogether。Noel’sfacestillhadonitthatstrangelookofwaiting;andMorlandsatobedient，withhishandonherheart，andhisownheartbeatingalmosttosuffocation。Theysat，stillasmice，andthemooncreptup。Itlaidafirstvaguegreynessonthehighwall，whichspreadslowlydown，andbrightenedtillthelichenandthegrassesuptherewerevisible;thencrepton，silveringthedarkabovetheirheads。Noelpulledhissleeve，andwhispered:\"See！\"Therecamethewhiteowl，softasasnowflake，driftingacrossinthatunearthlylight，asifflyingtothemoon。
Andjustthenthetopofthemoonitselflookedoverthewall，ashavingofsilverygold。Itgrew，becameabrightspreadfan，thenbalancedthere，fullandround，thecolourofpalehoney。
\"Ours！\"Noelwhispered。
2
>FromthesideoftheroadNoellistenedtillthesoundofthecarwaslostinthefoldsofthevalley。Shedidnotcry，butpassedherhandsoverherface，andbegantowalkhome，keepingtotheshadowofthetrees。Howmanyyearshadbeenaddedtoherageinthosesixhourssincethetelegramcame！Severaltimesinthatmileandahalfshesteppedintoapatchofbrightermoonlight，totakeoutandkissalittlephotograph，thenslipitbacknextherheart，heedlessthatsowarmaplacemustdestroyanyeffigy。Shefeltnotthefaintestcompunctionfortherecklessnessofherlove——itwasheronlycomfortagainstthecrushinglonelinessofthenight。Itkeptherup，madeherwalkonwithasortofpride，asifshehadgotthebestofFate。
Hewashersforevernow，inspiteofanythingthatcouldbedone。
Shedidnoteventhinkwhatshewouldsaywhenshegotin。Shecametotheavenue，andpassedupitstillinasortofdream。Herunclewasstandingbeforetheporch;shecouldhearhismutterings。Shemovedoutoftheshadowofthetrees，wentstraightuptohim，and，lookinginhisperturbedface，saidcalmly:
\"Cyrilaskedmetosaygood—byetoyouall，Uncle。Goodnight！\"
\"But，Isay，Nollielookhereyou！\"
Shehadpassedon。Shewentuptoherroom。There，bythedoor，herauntwasstanding，andwouldhavekissedher。Shedrewback:
\"No，Auntie。Notto—night！\"And，slippingby，shelockedherdoor。
BobandThirzaPierson，meetingintheirownroom，lookedateachotheraskance。Reliefattheirniece’ssafereturnwasconfusedbyotheremotions。BobPiersonexpressedhisfirst:
\"Phew！Iwasbeginningtothinkweshouldwhavetodragtheriver。
Whatgirlsarecomingto！\"
\"It’sthewar，Bob。\"
\"Ididn’tlikeherface，oldgirl。Idon’tknowwhatitwas，butI
didn’tlikeherface。\"
NeitherdidThirza，butshewouldnotadmitit，andencourageBobtotakeittoheart。Hetookthingssohardly，andwithsuchanoise！
Sheonlysaid:\"Pooryoungthings！IsupposeitwillbearelieftoEdward！\"
\"IloveNollie！\"saidBobPiersonsuddenly。\"She’sanaffectionatecreature。D—nit，I’msorryaboutthis。It’snotsobadforyoungMorland;he’sgottheexcitement——thoughIshouldn’tliketobeleavingNollie，ifIwereyoungagain。ThankGod，neitherofourboysisengaged。ByGeorge！whenIthinkofthemoutthere，andmyselfhere，Ifeelasifthetopofmyheadwouldcomeoff。Andthosepoliticianchapsspoutingawayineverycountry——howtheycanhavethecheek！\"
Thirzalookedathimanxiously。
\"Andnodinner！\"hesaidsuddenly。\"Whatd’youthinkthey’vebeendoingwiththemselves？\"
\"Holdingeachother’shands，poordears！D’youknowwhattimeitis，Bob？Nearlyoneo’clock。\"
\"Well，allIcansayis，I’vehadawretchedevening。Gettobed，oldgirl。You’llbefitfornothing。\"
Hewassoonasleep，butThirzalayawake，notexactlyworrying，forthatwasnothernature，butseeingNoel’sface，pale，languid，passionate，possessedbymemory。
VI
1
Noelreachedherfather’shousenextdaylateintheafternoon。
Therewasaletterinthehallforher。Shetoreitopen，andread:
\"MYDARLINGLOVE，\"Igotbackallright，andampostingthisatoncetotellyouweshallpassthroughLondon，andgofromCharingCross，Iexpectaboutnineo’clockto—night。Ishalllookoutforyou，there，incaseyouareupintime。EveryminuteIthinkofyou，andoflastnight。Oh！
Noel！
\"Yourdevotedlover，\"C。\"
Shelookedatthewrist—watchwhich，likeeveryotherlittlepatriot，shepossessed。Pastseven！Ifshewaited，Gratianorherfatherwouldseizeonher。
\"Takemythingsup，Dinah。I’vegotaheadachefromtravelling;I’mgoingtowalkitoff。PerhapsIshan’tbeintillpastnineorso。
Givemylovetothemall。\"
\"Oh，MissNoel，youcan’t，——\"
ButNoelwasgone。ShewalkedtowardsCharingCross;and，tokilltime，wentintoarestaurantandhadthatsimplerepast，coffeeandabun，whichthoseinlovewouldalwaystakeifSocietydidnotforciblyfeedthemonotherthings。Foodwasridiculoustoher。Shesatthereinthemidstofaperfecthiveofcreatureseatinghideously。Theplacewasshapedlikeamodernprison，havingtiersofgalleryroundanopenspace，andintheairwasthesmellofviandsandtheclatterofplatesandthemusicofaband。Meninkhakieverywhere，andNoelglancedfromformtoformtoseeifbychanceonemightbethatwhichrepresented，forher，LifeandtheBritishArmy。Athalf—pasteightshewentoutandmadeherway:
throughthecrowd，stillmechanicallysearching\"khaki\"forwhatshewanted;anditwasperhapsfortunatethattherewasaboutherfaceandwalksomethingwhichtouchedpeople。Atthestationshewentuptoanoldporter，and，puttingashillingintohisastonishedhand，askedhimtofindoutforherwhenceMorland’sregimentwouldstart。
Hecamebackpresently，andsaid:
\"Comewithme，miss。\"
Noelwent。Hewasratherlame，hadgreywhiskers，andaghostlythinresemblancetoheruncleBob，whichperhapshadbeenthereasonwhyshehadchosenhim。64
\"Brothergoin’out，miss？\"
Noelnodded。
\"Ah！It’sacroolwar。Ishan’tbesorrywhenit’sover。Goin’outandcomin’in，weseesomesadsights’ere。Wonderfulspiritthey’vegot，too。IneverlookattheclocknowbutwhatIthink:’Thereyougo，slow—coach！I’dliketosetyouontothedaytheboyscomeback！’WhenIputsabagin:’Anotherfor’ell\"Ithinks。Andsoitis，miss，fromallIcan’ear。I’vegotasonouttheremeself。
It’s’erethey’llcomealong。Youstandquietandkeepalookout，andyou’llgetafewminuteswithhimwhenhe’sdonewith’ismen。I
wouldn’tmove，ifIwereyou;he’llcometoyou，allright——can’tmissyou，there。\"And，lookingatherface，hethought:’Astonishin’
whataloto’brothersgo。Wotoh！Poorlittlemissy！Alittlelady，too。Wonderfulcollectedsheis。It’s’ard！’Andtryingtofindsomethingconsolingtosay，hemumbledout:\"Youcouldn’tbeinabetterplaceforseen’imoff。Goodnight，miss;anythingelseI
candoforyou？\"
\"No，thankyou;you’reverykind。\"
Helookedbackonceortwiceatherblue—cladfigurestandingverystill。Hehadleftheragainstalittleoasisofpiled—upemptymilk—cans，fardowntheplatformwhereafewciviliansinsimilarcasewerescattered。Thetrainwaywasemptyasyet。Inthegreyimmensityofthestationandtheturmoilofitsnoise，shefeltneitherlonelynorconsciousofotherswaiting;tooabsorbedintheonethoughtofseeinghimandtouchinghimagain。Theemptytrainbeganbackingin，stopped，andtelescopedwithaseriesoflittleclatteringbangs，backedonagain，andsubsidedtorest。Noelturnedhereyestowardsthestationarchways。Alreadyshefelttremulous，asthoughtheregimentweresendingbeforeitthevibrationofitsmarch。
Shehadnotasyetseenatroop—trainstart，andvagueimagesofbravearray，ofaflagfluttering，andthestirofdrums，besether。
Suddenlyshesawabrownswirlingmassdownthereattheveryedge，outofwhichathinbrowntrickleemergedtowardsher;nosoundofmusic，nowavedflag。Shehadalongingtorushdowntothebarrier，butrememberingthewordsoftheporter，stayedwhereshewas，withherhandstightlysqueezedtogether。Thetricklebecameastream，aflood，theheadofwhichbegantoreachher。Withaturbulenceofvoices，sunburntmen，burdeneduptothenose，passed，withriflesjuttingatallangles;shestrainedhereyes，staringintothatstreamasonemightintoawalkingwood，toisolateasingletree。
Herheadreeledwiththestrainofit，andtheefforttocatchhisvoiceamongthehubbubofallthosecheery，common，happy—go—luckysounds。Somewhosawhercluckedtheirtongues，somewentbysilent，othersseemedtoscanherasthoughshemightbewhattheywerelookingfor。Andeverthestreamandthehubbubmeltedintothetrain，andyetcamepouringon。Andstillshewaitedmotionless，withanawfulfear。Howcouldheeverfindher，orshehim？Thenshesawthatothersofthosewaitinghadfoundtheirmen。Andthelongingtorushupanddowntheplatformalmostovercameher;butstillshewaited。Andsuddenlyshesawhimwithtwootherofficerboys，closetothecarriages，comingslowlydowntowardsher。Shestoodwithhereyesfixedonhisface;theypassed，andshenearlycriedout。Thenheturned，brokeawayfromtheothertwo，andcamestraighttoher。Hehadseenherbeforeshehadseenhim。Hewasveryflushed，hadalittlefixedfrownbetweenhisblueeyesandasetjaw。Theystoodlookingateachother，theirhandshardgripped;
alltheemotionoflastnightwellingupwithinthem，sothattospeakwouldhavebeentobreakdown。Themilk—cansformedakindofshelter，andtheystoodsoclosetogetherthatnonecouldseetheirfaces。Noelwasthefirsttomasterherpowerofspeech;herwordscameout，daintyasever，throughtremblinglips:
\"Writetomeasmuchaseveryoucan，Cyril。I’mgoingtobeanurseatonce。Andthefirstleaveyouget，Ishallcometoyou——don’tforget。\"
\"Forget！Movealittleback，darling;theycan’tseeushere。Kissme！\"Shemovedback，thrustherfaceforwardsothatheneednotstoop，andputherlipsuptohis。Then，feelingthatshemightswoonandfalloveramongthecans，shewithdrewhermouth，leavingherforeheadagainsthislips。Hemurmured:
\"Wasitallrightwhenyougotinlastnight？\"
\"Yes;Isaidgood—byeforyou。\"
\"Oh！Noel——I’vebeenafraid——Ioughtn’t——Ioughtn’t——\"
\"Yes，yes;nothingcantakeyoufrommenow。\"
\"Youhavegotpluck。Morethan！\"
Alongwhistlesounded。Morlandgraspedherhandsconvulsively:
\"Good—bye，mylittlewife！Don’tfret。Goodbye！Imustgo。Godblessyou，Noel！\"
\"Iloveyou。\"
Theylookedateachother，justanothermoment，thenshetookherhandsfromhisandstoodbackintheshadowofthemilk—cans，rigid，followinghimwithhereyestillhewaslostinthetrain。
