re."

"Pretty trying, wasn't it?"

"Why--yes, some of it was. When the 'flu' epidemic was raging and the
poor fellows were having such a dreadful time it was bad enough. After
that I was sent to Eastview. In the hospital there I met the boys who
had been wounded on the other side and who talked about old age and
dissatisfaction and uneasiness, just as you do. But MY work doesn't
count. You are the person to be talked about. Since I have seen you you
have become a famous poet and a hero and--"

"Don't!"

She had been smiling; now she was very serious.

"Forgive me, Albert," she said. "We have been joking, you and I, but
there was a time when we--when your friends did not joke. Oh, Albert,
if you could have seen the Snow place as I saw it then. It was as if all
the hope and joy and everything worth while had been crushed out of it.
Your grandmother, poor little woman, was brave and quiet, but we
all knew she was trying to keep up for Captain Zelotes' sake. And
he--Albert, you can scarcely imagine how the news of your death changed
him. . . . Ah! well, it was a hard time, a dreadful time for--for every
one."

She paused and he, turning to look at her, saw that there were tears in
her eyes. He knew of her affection for his grandparents and theirs for
her. Before he could speak she was smiling again.

"But now that is all over, isn't it?" she said. "And the Snows are
the happiest people in the country, I do believe. AND the proudest, of
course. So now you must tell me all about it, about your experiences,
and about your war cross, and about your literary work--oh, about
everything."

The all-inclusive narrative was not destined to get very far. Old Mr.
Kendall came hurrying in, the sermon on the casting down of Baal in his
hand. Thereafter he led, guided, and to a large extent monopolized the
conversation. His discourse had proceeded perhaps as far as "Thirdly"
when Albert, looking at his watch, was surprised to find it almost
dinner time. Mr. Kendall, still talking, departed to his study to hunt
for another sermon. The young people said good-by in his absence.

"It has been awfully good to see you again, Helen," declared Albert.
"But I told you that in the beginning, didn't I? You seem like--well,
like a part of home, you know. And home means something to me nowadays."

"I'm glad to hear you speak of South Harniss as home. Of course I know
you don't mean to make it a permanent home--I imagine Madeline would
hav