thisfairyprincessofachildalreadytohavesomeone！Hewonderedifshewentaboutaskingeveryonethesequestions，withthatsomeoneinherthoughts。Poorchild！Andquicklyhesaid:
\"Afterall，lookatme！Iwasoutthereayear，andhereIamwithonlyhalfagameleg;timeswerealotworse，then，too。IoftenwishIwerebackthere。Anything’sbetterthanLondonandtheWarOffice。\"Butjustthenhesawthepadrecoming，andtookherhand。
\"Goodnight，MissPierson。Don’tworry。Thatdoesnogood，andthereisn’thalftheriskyouthink。\"
Herhandstirred，squeezedhisgratefully，asachild’swouldsqueeze。
\"Goodnight，\"shemurmured;\"thankyouawfully。\"
And，inthedarkcabagain，herememberedthinking:’Fancythatchild！Ajollyluckyboy，outthere！Toobad！Poorlittlefairyprincess！’
PARTII
I
1
Towashupisnotanexcitingoperation。TowashupinAugustbecameforNoelaprocesswhichtaxedherstrengthandenthusiasm。Shecombineditwithotherformsofinstructionintheartofnursing，hadverylittleleisure，andintheeveningsathomewouldoftenfallasleepcurledupinalargechintz—coveredchair。
GeorgeandGratianhadlonggonebacktotheirrespectivehospitals，andsheandherfatherhadthehousetothemselves。ShereceivedmanylettersfromCyrilwhichshecarriedaboutwithherandreadonherwaytoandfromthehospital;andeveryotherdayshewrotetohim。Hewasnotyetinthefiringline;hislettersweredescriptiveofhismen，hisfood，orthenatives，orreminiscentofKestrel;hersdescriptiveofwashingup，orreminiscentofKestrel。Butinboththerewasalwayssomelittlewordofthelongingwithinthem。
ItwastowardstheendofAugustwhenshehadtheletterwhichsaidthathehadbeenmovedup。Fromnowonhewouldbeinhourlydanger！
Thateveningafterdinnershedidnotgotosleepinthechair，butsatundertheopenwindow，clenchingherhands，andreading\"PrideandPrejudice\"withoutunderstandingaword。Whileshewassoengagedherfathercameupandsaid:
\"CaptainFort，Nollie。Willyougivehimsomecoffee？I’mafraidI
mustgoout。\"
Whenhehadgone，Noellookedathervisitordrinkinghiscoffee。Hehadbeenoutthere，too，andhewasalive;withonlyalittlelimp。
Thevisitorsmiledandsaid:
\"Whatwereyouthinkingaboutwhenwecamein？\"
\"Onlythewar。\"
\"Anynewsofhim？\"
Noelfrowned，shehatedtoshowherfeelings。
\"Yes！he’sgonetotheFront。Won’tyouhaveacigarette？\"
\"Thanks。Willyou？\"
\"Iwantoneawfully。Ithinksittingstillandwaitingismoredreadfulthananythingintheworld。\"
\"Except，knowingthatothersarewaiting。WhenIwasoutthereI
usedtoworryhorriblyovermymother。Shewasillatthetime。Thecruelestthinginwaristheanxietyofpeopleabouteachother——
nothingtouchesthat。\"
ThewordsexactlysummedupNoel’shourlythought。Hesaidnicethings，thismanwiththelonglegsandthethinbrownbumpyface！
\"IwishIwereaman，\"shesaid，\"Ithinkwomenhavemuchtheworsttimeinthewar。Isyourmotherold？\"Butofcourseshewasoldwhyhewasoldhimself！
\"ShediedlastChristmas。\"
\"Oh！I’msosorry！\"
\"Youlostyourmotherwhenyouwereababe，didn’tyou？\"
\"Yes。That’sherportrait。\"Attheendoftheroom，hangingonastripofblackvelvetwasapastel，veryfaintincolouring，asthoughfaded，ofayoungwoman，withaneager，sweetface，darkeyes，andbentalittleforward，asifquestioningherpainter。Fortwentuptoit。
\"It’snotabitlikeyou。Butshemusthavebeenaverysweetwoman。\"
\"It’sasortofpresenceintheroom。IwishIwerelikeher！\"
Fortturned。\"No，\"hesaid;\"no。Betterasyouare。Itwouldonlyhavespoiledacompletething。\"
\"Shewasgood。\"
\"Andaren’tyou？\"
\"Oh！no。Igetadevil。\"
\"You！Why，you’reoutofafairy—tale！\"
\"ItcomesfromDaddy——onlyhedoesn’tknow，becausehe’saperfectsaint;butIknowhe’shadadevilsomewhere，orhecouldn’tbethesaintheis。\"
\"H’m！\"saidFort。\"That’sverydeep:andIbelieveit’strue——thesaintsdidhavedevils。\"
\"PoorDaddy’sdevilhasbeendeadages。It’sbeenstarvedoutofhim，Ithink。\"
\"Doesyourdevilevergetawaywithyou？\"
Noelfelthercheeksgrowingredunderhisstare，andsheturnedtothewindow:
\"Yes。It’sarealdevil。\"
VividlytherehadcomebeforeherthedarkAbbey，andthemoonbalancingoverthetopofthecrumblingwall，andthewhiteowlflyingacross。And，speakingtotheair，shesaid:
\"Itmakesyoudothingsthatyouwanttodo。\"
Shewonderedifhewouldlaugh——itsoundedsosilly。Buthedidnot。
\"Anddamntheconsequences？Iknow。It’sratherajollythingtohave。\"
Noelshookherhead。\"Here’sDaddycomingback！\"
Fortheldouthishand。
\"Iwon’tstay。Goodnight;anddon’tworrytoomuch，willyou？\"
Hekeptherhandratheralongtime，andgaveitahardsqueeze。
Don’tworry！Whatadvice！Ah！ifshecouldseeCyriljustforaminute！
2
InSeptember，1916，SaturdaystillcamebeforeSunday，inspiteofthewar。ForEdwardPiersonthisSaturdayhadbeenastrenuousday，andevennow，atnearlymidnight，hewasstillconninghisjust—
completedsermon。
Apatriotofpatriots，hehadoftenapassionatelongingtoresignhisparish，andgolikehiscurateforachaplainattheFront。Itseemedtohimthatpeoplemustthinkhislifeidleandshelteredanduseless。EvenintimesofpeacehehadbeensensitiveenoughtofeelthecolddraughtyblastswhichtheChurchencountersinamaterialage。Heknewthatninepeopleoutoftenlookedonhimassomethingofaparasite，withnorealworkintheworld。Andsincehewasnothingifnotconscientious，healwaysworkedhimselftothebone。
To—dayhehadrisenathalf—pastsix，andafterhisbathandexercises，hadsatdowntohissermon——for，evennow，hewroteanewsermononceamonth，thoughhehadthefruitsoftwenty—sixyearstochoosefrom。True，thesenewsermonswererathercompiledthanwritten，because，bereftofhiscurate，hehadnottimeenoughforfreshthoughtonoldsubjects。AteighthehadbreakfastedwithNoel，beforeshewentofftoherhospital，whenceshewouldreturnateightintheevening。Ninetotenwashishourforseeingparishionerswhohadtroubles，orwantedhelporadvice，andhehadreceivedthreeto—daywhoallwantedhelp，whichhehadgiven。Fromtentoelevenhehadgonebacktohissermon，andhadspentfromeleventooneathischurch，attendingtosmallmatters，writingnotices，fixinghymns，holdingthedailyhalf—hourServiceinstitutedduringwartime，towhichbutfewevercame。Hehadhurriedbacktolunch，scampingitsothathemightgettohispianoforanhourofforgetfulness。Atthreehehadchristenedaverynoisybaby，andbeendetainedbyitsparentswhowishedforinformationonavarietyoftopics。Athalf—pastfourhehadsnatchedacupoftea，readingthepaper;andhadspentfromfivetosevenvisitingtwoParishClubs，andthosewhosewar—pensionmattershehadinhand，andfillingupformswhichwouldbekeptinofficialplacestillsuchtimeasthesystemshouldbechangedandafreshsetofformsissued。
>Fromseventoeighthewasathomeagain，incasehisflockwantedtoseehim;to—dayfoursheephadcome，andgoneaway，hewasafraid，butlittlethewiser。Fromhalf—pasteighttohalf—pastninehehadspentinchoirpractice，becausetheorganistwasonhisholiday。
Slowlyinthecooloftheeveninghehadwalkedhome，andfallenasleepinhischairongettingin。Atelevenhehadwokenwithastart，and，hardeninghisheart，hadgonebacktohissermon。Andnow，atnearlymidnight，itwasstilllessthantwentyminuteslong。
Helightedoneofhisrarecigarettes，andletthoughtwander。Howbeautifulthosepalepinkroseswereinthatoldsilverbowl—likealittlestrangepoem，orapieceofDebussymusic，oraMathieuMarispicture—remindinghimoddlyofthewordLeila。WashewronginlettingNoelseesomuchofLeila？Butthenshewassoimproved——
dearLeila！……Thepinkroseswerejustgoingtofall！Andyethowbeautiful！……Itwasquietto—night;hefeltverydrowsy……DidNolliestillthinkofthatyoungman，orhaditpassed？Shehadneverconfidedinhimsince！Afterthewar，itwouldbenicetotakehertoItaly，toallthelittletowns。TheywouldseetheAssisiofSt。Francis。TheLittleFlowersofSt。Francis。TheLittleFlowers！……Hishanddropped，thecigarettewentout。Hesleptwithhisfaceinshadow。Slowlyintothesilenceofhissleeplittlesinistersoundsintruded。Shortconcussions，dragginghimbackoutofthatdeepslumber。Hestartedup。Noelwasstandingatthedoor，inalongcoat。Shesaidinhercalmvoice:
\"Zeps，Daddy！\"
\"Yes，mydear。Wherearethemaids？\"
AnIrishvoiceansweredfromthehall:\"Here，sir;trustin’inGod;
but’tisbetteronthegroundfloor。\"
Hesawahuddleofthreefigures，queerlycostumed，againstthestairs。
\"Yes，Yes，Bridgie;you’resafedownhere。\"ThenhenoticedthatNoelwasgone。HefollowedheroutintotheSquare，alivewithfacesfaintlyluminousinthedarkness，andfoundheragainstthegardenrailings。
\"Youmustcomebackin，Nollie。\"
\"Oh，no！Cyrilhasthiseveryday。\"
Hestoodbesideher;notloth，forexcitementhadbeguntostirhisblood。Theystayedthereforsomeminutes，strainingtheireyesforsightofanythingsavethelittlezaggedsplashesofburstingshrapnel，whilevoicesbuzzed，andmuttered:\"Look！There！There！
Thereitis！\"
ButtheseershadeyesofgreaterfaiththanPierson’s，forhesawnothing:Hetookherarmatlast，andledherin。Inthehallshebrokefromhim。
\"Let’sgoupontheroof，Daddy！\"andranupstairs。
Againhefollowed，mountingbyaladder，throughatrapdoorontotheroof。
\"It’ssplendiduphere！\"shecried。
Hecouldseehereyesblazing，andthought:’Howmychilddoesloveexcitement——it’salmostterrible！’
Overthewide，dark，star—strewnskytravellingsearchlights，werelightingupthefewlittleclouds;thedomesandspiresrosefromamongthespread—outroofs，allfineandghostly。Thegunshadceasedfiring，asthoughpuzzled。Onedistantbangrumbledout。
\"Abomb！Oh！IfwecouldonlygetoneoftheZeps！\"
Afuriousoutburstoffiringfollowed，lastingperhapsaminute，thenceasedasifbymagic。Theysawtwosearchlightsconvergeandmeetrightoverhead。
\"It’saboveus！\"murmuredNoel。
Piersonputhisarmroundherwaist。’Shefeelsnofear！’hethought。Thesearch—lightsswitchedapart;andsuddenly，fromfaraway，cameaconfusionofweirdsounds。
\"Whatisit？They’recheering。Oh！Daddy，look！\"Thereintheheavens，towardstheeast，hungadullredthing，lengtheningastheygazed。
\"They’vegotit。It’sonfire！Hurrah！\"
Throughthedarkfirmamentthatfieryorangeshapebegancantingdownward;andthecheeringswelledinasavagefrenzyofsound。AndPierson’sarmtightenedonherwaist。
\"ThankGod！\"hemuttered。
Thebrightoblongseemedtobreakandspread，tilteddownbelowtheleveloftheroofs;andsuddenlytheheavensflared，asifsomehugejugofcrimsonlighthadbeenflungoutonthem。SomethingturnedoverinPierson’sheart;heflunguphishandtohiseyes。
\"Thepoormeninit！\"hesaid。\"Howterrible！\"
Noel’svoiceanswered，hardandpitiless:
\"Theyneedn’thavecome。They’remurderers！\"
Yes，theyweremurderers——buthowterrible！Andhestoodquivering，withhishandspressedtohisface，tillthecheeringhaddiedoutintosilence。
\"Let’spray，Nollie！\"hewhispered。\"OGod，WhoinThygreatmercyhathdeliveredusfromperil，takeintoThykeepingthesoulsoftheseourenemies，consumedbyThywrathbeforeoureyes;giveusthepowertopitythem——menlikeourselves。\"
ButevenwhileheprayedhecouldseeNoel’sfaceflame—whiteinthedarkness;and，asthatglowintheskyfadedout，hefeltoncemorethethrilloftriumph。
Theywentdowntotellthemaids，andforsometimeaftersatuptogether，talkingoverwhattheyhadseen，eatingbiscuitsanddrinkingmilk，whichtheywarmedonanetna。Itwasnearlytwoo’clockbeforetheywenttobed。Piersonfellasleepatonce，andneverturnedtillawakenedathalf—pastsixbyhisalarum。HehadHolyCommuniontoadministerateight，andhehurriedtogetearlytohischurchandseethatnothinguntowardhadhappenedtoit。Thereitstoodinthesunlight;tall，grey，quiet，unharmed，withbellgentlyringing。
3
AndatthathourCyrilMorland，undertheparapetofhistrench，tighteninghisbelt，waslookingathiswrist—watchforthehundredthtime，calculatingexactlywherehemeanttoputfootandhandforthegoingover:’Iabsolutelymustn’tletthosechapsgetinfrontofme，’hethought。Somanyyardsbeforethefirstlineoftrenches，somanyyardstothesecondline，andtherestop。Sohisrehearsalshadgone;itwastheperformancenow！Anotherminutebeforetheterrificracketofthedrum—fireshouldbecomethecurtain—fire，whichwouldadvancebeforethem。Heranhiseyedownthetrench。Themannexthimwaslickinghistwofirstfingers，asifhemightbegoingtobowlatcricket。Furtherdown，amanwasfeelinghisputtees。A
voicesaid:\"Wotpricetheorchestranah！\"Hesawteethgleaminfacesburntalmostblack。Thenhelookedup;theskywasbluebeyondthebrownishfilmofdustraisedbythestrikingshells。Noel！
Noel！Noel！……Hedughisfingersdeepintotheleftsideofhistunictillhecouldfeeltheoutlineofherphotographbetweenhisdispatch—caseandhisheart。Hisheartflutteredjustasitusedwhenhewasstretchedoutwithhandtouchingtheground，beforethestartofthe\"hundredyards\"atschool。Outofthecornerofhiseyehecaughttheflashofaman’s\"briquet\"lightingacigarette。Allrightforthosechaps，butnotforhim;hewantedallhisbreath——
thisrifle，andkitwerehandicapenough！Twodaysagohehadbeenreadinginsomepaperhowmenfeltjustbeforeanattack。Andnowheknew。Hejustfeltnervous。Ifonlythemomentwouldcome，andgetitselfover！Forallthethoughthegavetotheenemytheremighthavebeennone——nothingbutshellsandbullets，withlivesoftheirown。Heheardthewhistle;hisfootwasonthespothehadmarkeddown;hishandwherehehadseenit;hecalledout:\"Now，boys！\"Hisheadwasoverthetop，hisbodyover;hewasconsciousofsomeonefalling，andtwomenneckandneckbesidehim。Nottotryandrun，nottobreakoutofawalk;togosteady，andyetkeepahead！D——ntheseholes！Abullettorethroughhissleeve，grazinghisarm——ared—hotsensation，likethetouchofaniron。ABritishshellfromcloseoverhisheadburstsixtyyardsahead;hestumbled，fellflat，pickedhimselfup。Threeaheadofhimnow！Hewalkedfaster，anddrewalongside。Twoofthemfell。’Whatluck！’hethought;andgrippinghisrifleharder，pitchedheadlongintoadeclivity。Deadbodieslaythere！ThefirstGermantrenchline，andnothingaliveinit，nothingtocleanup，nothingofitleft！Hestopped，gettinghiswind;watchingthemenpantingandstumblingin。Theroarofthegunswaslouderthaneveragain，barragingthesecondline。Sofar，good！Andherewashiscaptain！
\"Ready，boys？On，then！\"
Thistimehemovedmoreslowlystill，overterriblegoing，allholesandhummocks。Halfconsciouslyhetookcoverallhecould。Theairwasalivewiththewhistlefrommachine—gunfirestormingacrosszigzagfashion—aliveitwaswithbullets，dust，andsmoke。’HowshallItellher？’hethought。Therewouldbenothingtotellbutjustasortofjaggedbrownsensation。Hekepthiseyessteadilybeforehim，notwantingtoseethemenfalling，notwantinganythingtodiverthimfromgettingthere。Hefeltthefaintfanningofthepassingbullets。Thesecondlinemustbeclosenow。Whydidn’tthatbarragelift？Wasthisnewdodgeoffiringtillthelastsecondgoingtodothemin？Anotherhundredyardsandhewouldbebangintoit。Heflunghimselfflatandwaited;lookingathiswrist—watchhenotedthathisarmwassoakedwithblood。Hethought:’Awound！NowIshallgohome。ThankGod！Oh，Noel！’Thepassingbulletswhirledabovehim;hecouldhearthemeventhroughthescreechandthunderoftheshell—fire。’Thebeastlythings！’hethought:Avoicebesidehimgaspedout:
\"It’slifted，sir。\"
Hecalled:\"Comeon，boys！\"andwentforward，stooping。Abulletstruckhisrifle。Theshockmadehimstaggerandsentanelectricshockspinninguphisarm。’Luckagain！’hethought。’Nowforit！
Ihaven’tseenaGermanyet！’Heleapedforward，spunround，flunguphisarms，andfellonhisback，shotthroughandthrough……
Thepositionwasconsolidated，astheysay，andinthedarknessstretcher—bearerswereoutoverthehalf—mile。Likewill—o’—the—
wisps，withtheirshadedlanterns，theymoved，hourafterhour，slowlyquarteringtheblackhoneycombwhichlaybehindthenewBritishline。Nowandtheninthelightofsomestar—shelltheirfiguresweredisclosed，bendingandraisingtheformsofthewounded，orwieldingpickandshovel。
\"Officer。\"
\"Dead？\"
\"Sure。\"
\"Search。\"
>Fromtheshadedlantern，loweredtojustabovethebody，ayellowishglarefellonfaceandbreast。Thehandsofthesearchermovedinthatlittlepooloflight。Thebearerwhowastakingnotesbentdown。
\"Anotherboy，\"hesaid。\"Thatallhehas？\"
Thesearcherraisedhimself。
\"Justthose，andaphoto。\"
\"Dispatch—case;poundloose;cigarette—case;wristwatch;photo。
Let’sseeit。\"
Thesearcherplacedthephotointhepooloflight。Thetinyfaceofagirlstaredupatthem，unmoved，fromitsshorthair。
\"Noel，\"saidthesearcher，reading。
\"H’m！Takecareofit。Stickitinhiscase。Comeon！\"
Thepooloflightdissolved，anddarknessforevercoveredCyrilMorland。
II
WhenthosefourtooktheirseatsintheGrandCircleatQueen’sHalltheprogrammewasalreadyatthesecondnumber，which，inspiteofalltheeffortsofpatriotism，wasofGermanorigin——aBrandenburgconcertobyBach。Morecuriousstill，itwasencored。Piersondidnotapplaud，hewastoofargoneinpleasure，andsatwitharaptsmileonhisface，obliviousofhissurroundings。Heremainedthusremovedfrommortaljoysandsorrowstillthelastapplausehaddiedaway，andLeila’svoicesaidinhisear:
\"Isn’titawonderfulaudience，Edward？Lookatallthatkhaki。
Who’dhavethoughtthoseyoungmencaredformusic——goodmusic——
Germanmusic，too？\"
Piersonlookeddownatthepatientmassofstandingfiguresinstrawhatsandmilitarycaps，withfacesturnedalloneway，andsighed。
\"IwishIcouldgetanaudiencelikethatinmychurch。\"
AsmilecreptoutatthecornerofLeila’slips。Shewasthinking:
’Ah！YourChurchisoutofdate，mydear，andsoareyou！YourChurch，withitssmellofmouldandincense，itsstained—glass，andnarrowedlengthanddroningorgan。PoorEdward，sooutoftheworld！’Butsheonlypressedhisarm，andwhispered:
\"LookatNoel！\"
ThegirlwastalkingtoJimmyFort。Hercheeksweregushed，andshelookedprettierthanPiersonhadseenherlookforalongtimenow，eversinceKestrel，indeed。HeheardLeilasigh。
\"Doesshegetnewsofherboy？DoyourememberthatMayWeek，Edward？Wewereveryyoungthen;evenyouwereyoung。Thatwassuchaprettylittleletteryouwroteme。Icanseeyoustill—wanderinginyourdressclothesalongtheriver，amongthe’holy’cows。\"
Buthereyesslidroundagain，watchingherotherneighbourandthegirl。AviolinisthadbeguntoplaytheCesarFranckSonata。ItwasPierson’sfavouritepieceofmusic，bringinghim，asitwere，aviewofheaven，ofdevotionalblueairwheredevoutstarswereshininginasunlitnoon，aboveecstatictreesandwaterswhereecstaticswanswereswimming。
\"Queerworld，Mr。Pierson！Fancythoseboyshavingtogobacktobarracklifeafterlisteningtothat！，What’syourfeeling？Arewemovingbacktotheapes？DidwetouchtopnotewiththatSonata？\"
Piersonturnedandcontemplatedhisquestionershrewdly。
\"No，CaptainFort，Idonotthinkwearemovingbacktotheapes;ifweevercamefromthem。Thoseboyshavethesoulsofheroes！\"
\"Iknowthat，sir，perhapsbetterthanyoudo。\"
\"Ah！yes，\"saidPiersonhumbly，\"Iforgot，ofcourse。\"Buthestilllookedathisneighbourdoubtfully。ThisCaptainFort，whowasafriendofLeila’s，andwhohadtwicebeentoseethem，puzzledhim。
Hehadafrankface，afrankvoice，butqueeropinions，orsoitseemedto，Pierson—littlebitsofMoslemism，littlebitsofthebackwoods，andtheveldt;queerunexpectedcynicisms，allsortsofsideviewsonEnglandhadlodgedinhim，andhedidnothidethem。
Theycamefromhimlikebullets，inthatfrankvoice，anddrilledlittleholesinthelistener。Thosecriticalsayingsflewsomuchmorepoignantlyfromonewhohadbeenthroughthesameeducationalmillashimself，thaniftheyhadmerelycomefromsomeroughdiamond，someartist，someforeigner，evenfromadoctorlikeGeorge。
Andtheyalwaysmadehimuncomfortable，likethetouchofapricklyleaf;theydidnotamusehim。CertainlyEdwardPiersonshrankfromtheroughtouchesofaknock—aboutphilosophy。Afterall，itwasbutnaturalthatheshould。
HeandNoelleftafterthefirstpartoftheconcert，partingfromtheothertwoatthedoor。Heslippedhishandthroughherarm;and，followingoutthosethoughtsofhisintheconcert—hall，asked:
\"DoyoulikeCaptainFort，Nollie？\"
\"Yes;he’saniceman。\"
\"Heseemsaniceman，certainly;hehasanicesmile，butstrangeviews，I’mafraid。\"
\"HethinkstheGermansarenotmuchworsethanweare;hesaysthatagoodmanyofusarebulliestoo。\"
\"Yes，thatisthesortofthingImean。\"
\"Butarewe，Daddy？\"
\"Surelynot。\"
\"ApolicemanItalkedtooncesaidthesame。CaptainFortsaysthatveryfewmencanstandhavingpowerputintotheirhandswithoutbeingspoiled。Hetoldmesomedreadfulstories。Hesayswehavenoimagination，sothatweoftendothingswithoutseeinghowbrutaltheyare。\"
\"We’renotperfect，Nollie;butonthewholeIthinkwe’reakindpeople。\"
Noelwassilentamoment，thensaidsuddenly:
\"Kindpeopleoftenthinkothersarekindtoo，whentheyreallyaren’t。CaptainFortdoesn’tmakethatmistake。\"
\"Ithinkhe’salittlecynical，andalittledangerous。\"
\"Areallpeopledangerouswhodon’tthinklikeothers，Daddy？\"
Pierson，incapableofmockery，wasnotincapableofseeingwhenhewasbeingmocked。Helookedathisdaughterwithasmile。
\"Notquitesobadasthat，Nollie;butMr。Fortiscertainlysubversive。Ithinkperhapshehasseentoomanyqueersidesoflife。\"
\"Ilikehimthebetterforthat。\"
\"Well，well，\"Piersonansweredabsently。HehadworktodoinpreparationforaConfirmationClass，andsoughthisstudyongettingin。
Noelwenttothedining—roomtodrinkherhotmilk。Thecurtainswerenotdrawn，andbrightmoonlightwascomingin。Withoutlightingup，shesettheetnagoing，andstoodlookingatthemoon—fullforthesecondtimesincesheandCyrilhadwaitedforitintheAbbey。
Andpressingherhandstoherbreast，sheshivered。Ifonlyshecouldsummonhimfromthemoonlightoutthere;ifonlyshewereawitch—couldseehim，knowwherehewas，whatdoing！Forafortnightnowshehadreceivednoletter。Everydaysincehehadleftshehadreadthecasualtylists，withthesuperstitiousfeelingthattodosowouldkeephimoutofthem。ShetookuptheTimes。Therewasjustenoughlight，andshereadtherollofhonour——tillthemoonshoneinonher，lyingonthefloor，withthedroppedjournal……
Butshewasproud，andsoontookgrieftoherroom，asonthatnightafterhelefther，shehadtakenlove。Nosignbetrayedtothehouseherdisaster;thejournalonthefloor，andthesmelloftheburntmilkwhichhadboiledover，revealednothing。Afterall，shewasbutoneofathousandheartswhichspentthatmoonlitnightinagony。
Eachnight，yearin，yearout，athousandfaceswereburiedinpillowstosmotherthatfirstawfulsenseofdesolation，andgropeforthesecretspirit—placewherebereavedsoulsgo，toreceivesomefeebletouchofhealingfromknowledgeofeachother’strouble