had always done since ages immemorial when a world-crisis called
for a world-man.

A sudden weakness crept into his blood. He was nearing home, and in a
few minutes would see her again. If only he could have left the previous
night on some pretext--but now he would have to wait until the afternoon
at least. How strange it was to think of losing her! How wedded his
subconscious thoughts had been to living out the future with her as his
revelation of Heaven's poetry! Would he have the courage to maintain his
purpose, or, at the sight of her, would he throw himself at her feet,
and, admitting failure, plead for mercy to the vanquished?

No. A thousand times no. Anything but that.

Reaching the clearing in the woods, he paused as the ivy-covered towers
of Roselawn were presented to his gaze. With a characteristic working of
his shoulders he drew himself to his full height, and his jaws and lips
were set in implacable determination.

The mist still clung to the earth, but over the north-east tower of
Roselawn he could see the sun, monstrous and red, looming with its sullen
threat of heat.

II.

It was nearing the end of a breakfast that had been trying for every one.
Lord Durwent's usual kindly affability was overcast by a fresh worry--the
non-appearance of his son Malcolm. Four telegrams had been despatched to
Scotland, but no answer had come. Elise had been gay and talkative with
a forced vivacity; and Lady Durwent had been bordering on hysteria. Not
that the dear lady was of sufficient depth to be profoundly moved by the
world's tragedy, but her unsatisfied sense of the dramatic gave her a new
thrill every time she said, 'WE ARE AT WAR--THINK OF IT!' as if she were
afraid that without her reminder they might forget the fact.

Selwyn sat in almost complete silence, merely acknowledging Lady
Durwent's proclamations of a state of war by appropriate acquiescence,
but his eyes remained fixed on the table. He could not trust them to
look at Elise for fear they should prove traitor and sue for an ignoble
peace. As for her, she met the situation with a smile, using woman's
instinct of protection to assume a cloak behind which her real feelings
were concealed.

They had just risen from the table, when the sound of a motor-car was
heard in the courtyard, and Elise hurried to the window.

'It's Malcolm, dad,' she said.

More in hysteria than ever, Lady Durwent hurried from the room, followed
more slowly by