the chair
which his father had just left, he put out his hand and took hers.

"I want to tell you," he said slowly, "that what my father has just told
me was not altogether a surprise. I've felt rather--well, rather afraid
of it, since Sir Jacques first examined me. There was something in the
nurses' manner too--but of course I knew I might be wrong. I'm sorry now
that I didn't tell you."

She still said nothing--only gripped his hand more and more tightly.

"And Rose? One thing father said is being such a comfort to me. Father
thinks that I shall still be able to be of use--I mean in the way I
should like to be, especially if the war goes on a long time. I wonder
if he showed you this?" He picked up off his bed a little piece of paper
and held it out to her.

Through her bitter tears she read the words: "German thoroughness"--and
then a paragraph which explained how the German military authorities
were using their disabled officers in the training of recruits.

"Father thinks that in time they'll do something of the sort here--not
yet, perhaps, but in some months from now."

And then, as she still did not speak, he grew uneasy. "Come a little
nearer," he whispered. "I feel as if you were so far away. We needn't be
afraid of any one coming in. Father has promised that no one shall
disturb us till you ring."

She did as he asked, and putting his uninjured arm right round her, he
held her closely to him.

It was the first time since that strange home-coming of his that Jervis
had felt secure against the sudden irruption into the room of some
well-meaning person. Of the two it was Jervis who had been silently
determined to give the talkative, sentimental nurses no excuse for even
the mildest, the kindliest comment.

But now everything was merged in this great ordeal of love and grief
they were battling through together--secure from the unwanted presence
of others as they had not been since he had last felt her heart
fluttering beneath his, in the porch of the cathedral.

"Oh, Rose," he whispered at last, "you don't know what a difference
having you makes to me! If it wasn't for you, I don't know how I could
face it."

For a moment she clung a little closer to him. He felt her trembling
with a wave of emotion to which he had no present clue. "Oh,
Jervis--dear Jervis, is that true?" she asked piteously.

"Do you doubt it?" he whispered.

"Then there's something I want you to do for me."

"You know that ther