ase for himself than they did, but
was he not a shirker just as much as they were? Then all such thoughts
were driven from his mind in a second, for down the platform steps,
with the evident intention of passing into the hall, came Admiral
Tresize, Captain Trevanion, and several ladies, among whom was Nancy.
At first he felt as if he must rush out of the hall, but his feet
seemed rooted, he could not move. Captain Trevanion and Nancy came
towards him.

"Now then, Nancarrow, have you enlisted yet?" asked Trevanion. "You
should, as an old O.T.C. man. I find that hosts of the fellows from
Clifton College have enlisted. Aren't you going to?"

Bob did not speak, he could not. He heard the sneer in the Captain's
voice, saw the look of contempt on his face, and he knew why he spoke.
But he could not understand why Nancy stood waiting as if with the
intention of speaking to him. He knew that he cut a poor figure
compared with Trevanion, and that to Nancy he must seem a slacker, a
wastrel. Still he could not speak nor move. He felt that the girl's
eyes were upon him, felt contempt in her every gesture, her every
movement. She came up close to him.

"Aren't you going to help to uphold your country's honour?" she said,
and her voice quivered with excitement. Evidently she was deeply moved.

He felt as if the room were whirling round. He thought he noted a sign
of pleading in her voice, and that her eyes became softer. It seemed
to him that she was giving him his last chance. He could not speak, he
could only shake his head.

"Then allow me to present you with this," she went on, and she held out
a white feather. "I am sure you must be proud of it, and that you will
wear it honourably, especially at such a time as this."

The insult pierced his heart like a poisoned arrow. He knew that her
intention was to heap upon him the greatest ignominy of which she was
capable. There were not many people in the room, but there were some
who must have seen her action. As for Trevanion he turned away his
head with a laugh.

"Come, Captain Trevanion," said Nancy, "we must be going." She took
hold of his arm, and they walked out of the hall together.

Bob made a stride forward as if to follow them. He wanted to hurl
defiance at them, wanted to tell her that her action was mean and
contemptible, unworthy of an Englishwoman. Wanted to--God knows what
he wanted. His brain was whirling, everything seemed to be mad
conf