pride and dignity and wounded womanhood were
swept away. Even Freddy, in his soldier's grave, was forgotten. Her
whole life and world was Michael; he began it and ended it. This
verminous and roughly-dressed Tommy, who was gazing at her with eyes
which bewildered and humbled her, was the dearest thing on earth.

She was comfortably seated; Michael had shut the door, and they were
side by side, waiting for the taxi to go on. The next moment the
driver popped his head in at the window.

"Where to, sir?" he said, politely. Michael's worn, weatherbeaten face
had called up his sentiment for the men at the front.

"Where to?" Michael repeated foolishly. He paused. "Oh, anywhere!
Anywhere will do--it doesn't matter." He smiled. "I'm back in old
Blighty--that's all that matters--anywhere is good enough for me."

"Right you are, sir! I'll take you somewhere pleasant."

Margaret smiled. She was, indeed, all smiles and heart-beats and
nervous anticipation.

The moment the taxi had swung away from the station, it entered a quiet
street, bordered with high houses on either side. Michael lost no
time; he folded her in his arms and kissed her again and again, and
held her to him.

"This is heaven, just heaven, darling!" he said ardently. "I could eat
you all up, you're so fresh and sweet and delicious!"

Meg was unresisting. Her yielding told her lover more than hours of
explanation could have done. All she said was:

"But what if I don't think it's heaven?"

"What indeed?" he said, happily. "But don't you?" He had released her
to read her answer in her eyes.

She said nothing; words seemed for lighter moments.

"Say something nice," he pleaded.

"I love you, Mike," she said shyly. "Is that enough?"

"It's all I want," he said, while Meg wound her arms round his neck and
drew his face nearer hers to receive her kiss. As she nestled against
him, he said tenderly, "Remember, I'm verminous; I'm not fit to touch,
dearest."

"I don't care! I don't mind if I get covered with them," she laughed.
"And I don't care if all the world sees me kissing you! I just love
you, Mike, and you're here--nothing in all the world matters except
that!"

She unclasped her hands. Her weeping face was pressed to his rough
uniform; horrible as it was, she was kissing it tenderly, almost
devoutly, stroking it with her fingers. It gave her a sense of pride
and assurance that he was there beside her.

In the beautiful wa