light.

Mounting steadily with his son's arm to sustain him, he argued
garrulously for a sojourn at the nearest hostelry, or for a stop at
Chevy Chase. He would, he promised, go to bed at the Club, and thus be
rid of Bronson. Bronson didn't know his place, he would have to be
taught--

Arriving at the top, he was led to Derry's car. He insisted on an
understanding. If he got in, they were to stop at the Club.

"No," Derry said, "we won't stop. We are going home."

Derry had never commanded a brigade. But he had in him the blood of
one who had. He possessed also strength and determination backed at
the moment by righteous indignation. He lifted his father bodily, put
him in the car, took his seat beside him, shut the door, and drove off.
He felt remarkably cheered as they whirled along at top speed.

The General, yielding gracefully to the inevitable, rolled himself up
in the rugs, dropped his head against the padded cushions and, soothed
by the warmth, fell asleep.

He waked to find himself being guided up his own stairway by Bronson
and the butler.

"Put him into a hot bath, Bronson," Derry directed from the threshold
of his father's room, and, the General, quite surprisingly, made no
protest. He had his bath, hot drinks to follow, and hot water bags in
his bed. When he drifted off finally, into uneasy dreams, he was
watched over by Bronson as if he had been a baby.

Derry, looking at his watch, was amazed to find that the evening was
yet early. He had lived emotionally through a much longer period than
that marked by the clocks.

He had no engagements. He had found himself of late shrinking a little
from his kind. The clubs and the hotels were crowded with officers.
Private houses, hung with service flags, paid homage to men in uniform.
He was aware that he was, perhaps, unduly sensitive, but it was not
pleasant to meet the inquiring glance, the guarded question. He was
welcomed outwardly as of old. But, then, he had a great deal of money.
People did not like to offend his father's son. But if he had not been
his father's son? What then?

He dined alone and in state in the great dining room. The portraits of
his ancestors looked down on him. There was his mother's grandfather,
who had the same fair hair and strongly marked brows. He had been an
officer in the English army, and wore the picturesque uniform of the
period. There were other men in uniform--ancestors--.

But of what earth