-night. That means Britain will be in a state of war with Germany
as from midnight." The hand that held the paper trembled with
excitement.

"How frightfully thrilling!" said one girl.

"How awful!" whispered the other.

"How ripping!" corrected I. "Crash on with the game. Your service.
Love--fifteen."

Five days later it was decided that I should not return to school,
but should go at once into the army. So it was that I never finished
up in the correct style at Kensingtowe with an emotional last
chapel, endless good wishes and a lump in my throat. I just didn't
go back.

Instead, an influential friend, who knew the old Colonel of the 2nd
Tenth East Cheshires, a territorial battalion of my grandfather's
regiment, secured for me and, at my request, for Doe commissions in
that unit. His Majesty the King (whom, and whose dominions, might
God preserve in this grand moment of peril) had, it seemed, great
faith in the loyalty and gallantry of "Our trusty and well-beloved
Rupert Ray," as also of "Our trusty and well-beloved Edgar Gray
Doe," and was pleased to accept our swords in the defence of his
realm.

So one day we two trusty and well-beloved subjects, flushed, very
nervous, and clad in the most expensive khaki uniforms that London
could provide, took train for the North to interview the Colonel of
the 2nd Tenth. He was sitting at a littered writing-table, when we
were shown in by a smart orderly. We saw a plump old territorial
Colonel, grey-haired, grey-moustached, and kindly in face. His khaki
jacket was brightened by the two South African medal ribbons; and we
were so sadly fresh to things military as to wonder whether either
was the V.C. We saluted with great smartness, and hoped we had made
the movement correctly: for really, we knew very little about it. I
wasn't sure whether we ought to salute indoors; and Doe, having
politely bared his fair head on entering the office, saluted without
a cap. I blushed at my bad manners and surreptitiously removed mine.
Not knowing what to do with my hands, I put them in my pockets. I
knew that, if something didn't happen quickly, I should start
giggling. Here in the presence of our new commanding officer I felt
as I used to when I stood before the head master.

"Sit down," beamed the C.O.

We sat down, crossed our legs, and tried to appear at our ease, and
languid; as became officers.

"How old are you?" the Colonel asked Doe.

Doe hesitated, wondering whether to p