e you, except that she was small and slender. Her hair was
dark and her eyes. You have your father's eyes and hair.

"But she was so pretty and so loving--and you never saw such a
honeymoon. They were married in the spring, and the orchards were in
bloom, and your father filled her room with apple blossoms, and the
first day when Jim drove them up from the station, your father carried
her in his arms over the threshold and up into that room, and when she
came down, she said, 'Mary Connolly, isn't life--wonderful?'"

"Did she say that, Mrs. Connolly, really? Daddy always teases me when
I go into raptures. He says that I think everything is wonderful from
a sunset to a chocolate soda."

"Well, she did, too. Her husband was the most wonderful man, and her
baby was the most wonderful baby--and her house was the most wonderful
house. You make me think of her in every way. But you won't have
apple blossoms for your honeymoon, my dear."

"No. But, oh, Mrs. Connolly--it won't make any real difference."

"Not a bit. And if you'll come up here, Jim and I will promise not to
be in the way. Your mother said we were never in the way. And I'll
serve your meals in front of the sitting-room fire. They used to have
theirs out of doors. But you'll be just as much alone, with me and Jim
eating in the kitchen."

It was very easy after that to tell Mrs. Connolly all about it. About
Derry, and how he had fallen in love with her when he had thought she
was just the girl in the Toy Shop. But there were things which she did
not tell, of the shabby old gentleman and of the shadow which had
darkened Derry's life.

Then when she had finished, Mary Connolly asked the thing which
everybody asked--"Why isn't he fighting?"

Jean flushed. "He--he made a promise to his mother."

"I'd never make my boys promise a thing like that. And if I did, I'd
hope they'd break it."

"Break it?" tensely.

"Of course. Their honor's bigger than anything I could ever ask them.
And they know it."

"Then you think that Derry ought to break his promise?"

"I do, indeed, my dear."

"But--. Oh, Mrs. Connolly, I don't know whether I want him to break
it."

"Why not?"

With her face hidden. "I don't know whether I could let him--go."

"You'd let him go. Never fear. When the moment came, the good Lord
would give you strength--"

There were steps outside. Jean leaned over and kissed Mary Connolly on
the cheek. "You are such a darl