rry was speaking, Phyllis, her hands tightly clasped, was
leaning forward listening with glistening eyes and parted lips. Suddenly
she rose, and went hurriedly to the door.

"Forgive me," said Barry, turning to Mrs. Vincent. "I should not have
talked about these things. It's Neil here that drew me out. It's his
fault."

In a few minutes Captain Neil arose and saying, "I'll see where Phyllis
has gone," went out at the same door.

"They are very great friends," said Mrs. Vincent. "We are very fond of
Captain Fraser. Indeed, he is like one of our family."

"A fine, brave chap he is," said Barry warmly, but with a queer chill at
his heart.

"Phyllis has made some very delightful friends in France. Those
Americans at Etaples were very good to her," and she continued to chat
in her soft, gentle voice, to which Barry gave a courteous hearing
but very casual replies. His heart and his ears were attentive for the
returning footsteps of those who had so abruptly deserted them. While
Mrs. Vincent was talking, an ugly question was thrusting itself upon his
attention, demanding an answer. He could see--any one with eyes could
see--that there was between Phyllis and his friend Captain Neil some
understanding. Just what was between them Barry longed to know. It
flashed upon him that upon the answer to that question his whole future
hung, for if this girl was more than friend to Captain Neil, then the
joy of life had for him been quenched. No motor trip for him to-morrow.
He had had enough heart-wrenching to bear as it was without that. No!
If between these two a closer relation than that of mere friendship
existed, his way was clear. He would return to the trenches to-morrow.

"Oh, here you are, dear," said Mrs. Vincent, as Phyllis and Captain Neil
returned to the room. "You found the air too close, I fear."

"No," said Phyllis with simple sincerity, "it was Barry. I saw those
men, and I could not bear it. I can't bear it now." Her lips were still
trembling, and her eyes were filled with tears.

"And yet," said Barry, "when you were over there in the midst of it all,
you never once weakened. That's the wonder of it. You just go on, doing
what you must do. You haven't time to reflect, and it's God's mercy that
it is so. Thank God we have our duty to do no matter what comes. Without
that life would be unbearable."

"Now, what about to-morrow?" said Captain Neil briskly, as Mrs. Vincent
rose from the table. "We must settle that