streets of London, and entrained for Southampton. It was a
day to be remembered. The masses were full of excitement, and cheered
till they were hoarse. Those on foot pressed forward, and, defying all
regulations, marched beside their heroes. Sweethearts struggled to
clutch the arms of lovers, and wives, poor things! held up their babes
and gazed fondly and with tearful eyes at departing husbands. Ay, and
it was a time full of trials for the higher as well as the humbler in
the land. How many of those fair damsels, dressed in all the finery
that money could buy, waved a handkerchief to some devoted lover, and
how many women sent all they cared for away to war and duty with dry
eyes and an encouraging smile, while surrounded by their sisters, only
to retire later and weep in private as if their hearts would break? God
knows! Only such things are, and ever will be, when men go out to
fight. But at last it was all done with. The train was off, and the
din and shouts, the cheers and strains of the National Anthem left far
behind.

"Thank goodness, we're off!" exclaimed one big fellow who happened to be
in the same carriage with Phil and Tony, and who had just waved a last
adieu to quite a number of girls. "I wouldn't go through it again for
the wealth of the Queen. It makes yer almost wish there wasn't such
things as sweethearts."

"Get along, George, old man!" another man replied, with a poor attempt
at a laugh, as he hastily drew his sleeve across his eyes. "Yer know
yer wouldn't be without 'em, bless their little hearts! It's fine to
think as there'll be someone at home a-thinking of yer; and just yer
wait till we're back again. My eye, what a time we'll have! What do
yer say, Corporal Western?"

"I fancy I haven't an opinion to give, Billy," Phil said, with a smile.
"I haven't a sweetheart yet, you see."

"Then yer ought'er, Corporal. You're smart. Why, blow me if you aren't
one of the smartest in the regiment, and if yer liked yer could have ten
of 'em, and all thinking they was the only one. You've been wasting
opportunities." Billy looked quite reproachfully at Phil.

"Then I'll have to wait, Billy, I expect. Sweethearts are not to be
found in Russia," was the laughing answer.

"No, I d'say not. You ought to know, Corporal, for I hear yer can speak
the Russian lingo; and knows lots about the country. What's all this
row about? None of us chaps knows, and you'd be doing all of us a good