girl, and it doesn't matter. Do
you suppose anyone would trust me with sixpence now? Oh, how could he?
How could he?'

'You must try and forget it, George,' said Lucy, gently.

The boy pulled himself together and gave Alec a charming smile.

'It's awfully ripping of you to take pity on me.'

'I want you to know before you decide that you'll have to rough it all
the time. It'll be hard and dangerous work.'

'Well, as far as I'm concerned it's Hobson's choice, isn't it?' he
answered, bitterly.

Alec held out his hand, with one of his rare, quiet smiles.

'I hope we shall pull well together and be good friends.'

'And when you come back, George, everything will be over. I wish I were
a man so that I might go with you. I wish I had your chance. You've got
everything before you, George. I think no man has ever had such an
opportunity. All our hope is in you. I want to be proud of you. All my
self-respect depends on you. I want you to distinguish yourself, so
that I may feel once more honest and strong and clean.'

Her voice was trembling with a deep emotion, and George, quick to
respond, flushed.

'I am a selfish beast,' he cried. 'I've been thinking of myself all the
time. I've never given a thought to you.'

'I don't want you to: I only want you to be brave and honest and
steadfast.'

The tears came to his eyes, and he put his arms around her neck. He
nestled against her heart as a child might have done.

'It'll be awfully hard to leave you, Lucy.'

'It'll be harder for me, dear, because you will be doing great and
heroic things, while I shall be able only to wait and watch. But I want
you to go.' Her voice broke, and she spoke almost in a whisper. 'And
don't forget that you're going for my sake as well as for your own. If
you did anything wrong or disgraceful it would break my heart.'

'I swear to you that you'll never be ashamed of me, Lucy,' he said.

She kissed him and smiled. Alec had watched them silently. His heart was
very full.

'But we mustn't be silly and sentimental, or Mr. MacKenzie will think us
a pair of fools.' She looked at him gaily. 'We're both very grateful to
you.'

'I'm afraid I'm starting almost at once,' he said. 'George must be ready
in a week.'

'George can be ready in twenty-four hours if need be,' she answered.

The boy walked towards the window and lit a cigarette. He wanted to
steady his nerves.

'I'm afraid I shall be able to see little of you during the next few
d