The news was shouted to Grandpa, along with extracts from Neil's
letter, before he went to bed. He made little comment, merely saying
that "they were fine lads and would do their duty." But Christina knew
he was deeply grieved that Neil should be turned aside from the
ministry. He expressed no sorrow but he did not sing the Hindmost Hymn
and the next morning at family worship he read,

"Why art thou cast down, oh, my soul, and why art thou disquieted
within me?"

CHAPTER XI

"LAST LEAVE"

The Lindsay boys did not get home on leave until the Easter vacation,
for they were taking their military training along with their
university work. John drove down to Silver Creek Crossing to meet
them, for the roads to town were almost impassable. The home-coming of
the boys had always been the great event in their family life, but it
was a far more wonderful thing this time; it had something of the
flavour of heroes returning from the war.

Christina and Jimmie met them at the road gate under the moaning
poplars, where the wind whipped her skirts about her and blew her hair
into her eyes.

Their mother and Uncle Neil were half way down the lane, and even
Grandpa had hobbled to the edge of the garden to meet the soldier boys
home on their first leave. Christina had known they would be in khaki,
but when a trim young private of artillery in jingling spurs and
bandolier, and a smart young subaltern in shining boots and straps and
belt and what not leaped from the democrat and charged upon her;
instead of running to meet them, their sister put her head down against
the gate post and burst into tears. Somehow the sight of Sandy in the
uniform of his country's service had overwhelmed Christina with a sense
of the great gulf that had yawned between them. Sandy and Neil were
gone and there were two soldier-men in their place. Manlike, they did
not understand her tears.

"Goodness, Christine!" cried Sandy, jovially, "if you're sorry we've
come home, we can turn right back if you'd rather."

"You silly thing--I--I'm not sorry," gasped Christina; kissing them and
turning from tears to laughter. "I--I forgot you'd be in uniform."

"Well, cheer up," said Neil comfortingly, "I'll admit that the sight of
Sandy's calves is enough to make anybody weep, but he'll fatten up next
summer--here's Mother!"--and he ran up the lane at a breakneck pace.

Certainly Sandy's calves were not any too stout. He looked like a whip
hand