n, Lenox Clifford, has come over to England
with the American contingent. He has just thirty-six hours' leave, and
he rushed over to Petteridge to see the Burritts. Lenox and I were
brought up together; I've stayed whole months with them when Uncle Carr
had a ranch in New Mexico. It was Lenox who taught me to ride, and to
fish, and to row, and to skate. There's no one in the world so clever as
Lenox! It's his birthday to-day. It was for him I wanted to get those
cigarettes--I thought he'd like them in camp. I couldn't think of
anything else to send him that he could pack among his kit. Well, he's
going off this week to the front, and, as likely as not, he'll be killed
right away, and I'll never see him in this world again. It makes me
crazy to think of it. He's only ten miles away, and I mayn't even say
good-bye to him. Lenox, who's called me his 'little indispensable' ever
since I was four! If he was killed, and I hadn't had one last word with
him, I'd break my heart. Yes, I would! You English girls are so
cold--you laugh at me because I feel red-hot about things."

"We're not cold really. I didn't understand," said Loveday. "You never
told me all this about your cousin. Does Miss Todd know he's just off
for the front?"

"Cousin Coralie said so in her letter. That's what made me so furious. I
wouldn't have asked to go to Petteridge just for the sake of a holiday;
but when it's a case of seeing Lenox, perhaps for the last time, I'm
desperate. Rules are cruel things!"

"I do think Miss Todd might have made a special exception," said
Loveday, hugging the agitated little figure that clung to her. "I'm
sure Mrs. Gifford would have let you go. It's because Miss Todd is new,
and also because, when once she's said a thing, she sticks to it. You
were kept to 'bounds'."

"I know. But, Loveday, I'm going to break them this morning. I must say
good-bye to Lenox whatever happens. I'm going to cycle over to
Petteridge--now don't talk, for I've planned it all out. I can climb
down the ivy, and I left Wendy's bicycle outside last night on purpose.
I shall be back by half-past seven."

The audacity of the proposal nearly took Loveday's breath away.

"But--but----" she remonstrated.

"No buts," said Diana, getting up and putting on her tam-o'-shanter.

"But, you silly child, you'll never do it in the time, and they won't be
up when you get to Petteridge."

"Won't they? I rather guess they will! I told Cousin Cora I was coming