r Dr. Mitchell was round at the hospital
early, when Alvina was just beginning her morning duties there. He
went into the matron's room, and asked for Nurse Houghton. The
matron left them together.

The doctor was excited. He smiled broadly, but with a tension of
nervous excitement. Alvina was troubled. Her heart beat fast.

"Now!" said Dr. Mitchell. "What have you to say to me?"

She looked up at him with confused eyes. He smiled excitedly and
meaningful at her, and came a little nearer.

"Today is the day when you answer, isn't it?" he said. "Now then,
let me hear what you have to say."

But she only watched him with large, troubled eyes, and did not
speak. He came still nearer to her.

"Well then," he said, "I am to take it that silence gives consent."
And he laughed nervously, with nervous anticipation, as he tried to
put his arm round her. But she stepped suddenly back.

"No, not yet," she said.

"Why?" he asked.

"I haven't given my answer," she said.

"Give it then," he said, testily.

"I've volunteered for active service," she stammered. "I felt I
ought to do something."

"Why?" he asked. He could put a nasty intonation into that
monosyllable. "I should have thought you would answer _me_ first."

She did not answer, but watched him. She did not like him.

"I only signed yesterday," she said.

"Why didn't you leave it till tomorrow? It would have looked
better." He was angry. But he saw a half-frightened, half-guilty
look on her face, and during the weeks of anticipation he had worked
himself up.

"But put that aside," he smiled again, a little dangerously. "You
have still to answer my question. Having volunteered for war service
doesn't prevent your being engaged to me, does it?"

Alvina watched him with large eyes. And again he came very near to
her, so that his blue-serge waistcoat seemed, to impinge on her, and
his purplish red face was above her.

"I'd rather not be engaged, under the circumstances," she said.

"Why?" came the nasty monosyllable. "What have the circumstances got
to do with it?"

"Everything is so uncertain," she said. "I'd rather wait."

"Wait! Haven't you waited long enough? There's nothing at all to
prevent your getting engaged to me now. Nothing whatsoever! Come
now. I'm old enough not to be played with. And I'm much too much in
love with you to let you go on indefinitely like this. Come now!" He
smiled imminent, and held out his large hand for her hand. "Let m