ther's eyes questioning her. "Never fear," she said.
"If I don't think that the war was necessary as the chosen means of
arresting England in her downward course, I know that it has got to be
fought to the finish, I know that the Allies have to prove that they
will not submit to Prussian militarism dominating Europe. I never
believed in the rottenness of England, and surely the spirits of our
young men who are fighting ought to prove that it isn't? England
decadent, indeed!"

"You're right," Freddy said. "England wasn't a bit rotten--or, at
least, no rottener than she ever was, only the rottenness was all
dragged into the limelight. Things are discussed in papers and from
pulpits to-day which were never even spoken of between fathers and sons
or husbands and wives in days gone by. If the war will stop all the
absurd talk about England going to the dickens, it won't be fought for
nothing. We've decried our country long enough."

They had only four minutes before they had to part. Margaret was
beginning to feel numb and speechless. Were these four minutes to be
the last she would ever spend with Freddy, and were they to go on
talking as if he was only going back to Oxford after the long vacation?

Two more minutes passed and they had said nothing that mattered. Truly
words were given to hide our thoughts!

As Margaret looked up at the clock, Freddy put his arms round her and
held her closely to him. This was Meg's first tender embrace since her
farewell with Michael. It was very nearly her undoing.

"Good-bye, old girl," was all that Freddy said; it was all he could say.

Meg clung to him and kissed him silently. Freddy felt her agony. It
was greater than his own, for he had many responsibilities on his mind,
and the excitement of actually going to take part in the "real thing."
He kissed her with a tenderness which was almost a lover's.

Meg was still silent. She dared not attempt to speak; she knew that
Freddy would hate tears. The next moment, after a closer hug, he put
her decisively from him.

"Time's up, old girl! I must look after my men. We are very much
alone, we two. I wish I could have left you in someone's care."

"I'm so glad," Meg said, a little brokenly, "so glad it's just we two.
I've never had to share you with anyone--you've always been my very
own."

Margaret knew that Freddy had made a covert allusion to the fact that
if Michael had not failed her, she would, in the event