one thing was plain to them. Their country was at
war. The King's soldiers were going to defend their nation's word of
honour, and to crush a Power, which they had no doubt meant to rob
England of her glory, and conquer her. Beyond that they troubled
little. Neither of them understood much about the cause of the
trouble. But that did not matter. They had heard the call, "Your King
and Country need you," and that was enough. To remain quietly at home
after that was the act of a poltroon and a coward.

"Bob, are you there?"

He had gone from the lawn into a shrubbery, where he was completely
hidden. He felt as though he must get out of the sight of every one.

It was Nancy's voice, and every nerve in his body thrilled as he heard
it. Yes, Nancy would understand him; he could make everything plain to
her.

"Yes, Nancy." He tried to speak cheerfully, but his heart was like
lead.

"Bob," and there was a tone in her voice which he had never heard
before. "What Dick has been telling us isn't true, is it?"

She had reached his side by this time, and, in spite of her pallor, and
the peculiar light in her eyes, he had never seen her look so beautiful.

"What has he been telling you?" he asked, feeling ashamed of himself
for asking the question. He knew quite well.

"That--all the rest of them have offered themselves for their country,
and you--you----"

"Let me explain, Nancy," he cried eagerly. "Let me tell you why I
can't----"

"I don't want any explanations," and there was anger in her voice.
"Lord Kitchener has called for volunteers. He has asked for half a
million men, so that we may stand by our word of honour, and save our
country. What I want to know is, are you going to play the coward?"

"You know my principles, Nancy. You know what we said to each other
down at Gurnard's Head, and----"

"I don't want to hear anything more about that," she interrupted
impatiently. "I want to know what you are going to _do_. Please
answer me."

She had ceased to be pale now, although her lips quivered and her hands
trembled. A pink spot burnt on each cheek, and her eyes burned like
fire. Bob knew that she would not be satisfied with subterfuges, or
contented with evasions. Neither, indeed, did he wish to shelter
himself behind them.

"I'm going to do nothing," he replied. "That is I'm going to carry out
the plan we agreed on. Look here, Nancy----"

But again she interrupted him. She was angry