rtie. "Anyone would think that to save a few
hundred human lives was a thing to be ashamed of. It was the same thing
in South Africa; always slinking off into the background when the work
was done, till everyone took you for nothing but a looker-on--a chap who
ought to wear the V.C., if ever there was one," he ended, thrusting an
arm through Charlie's, as the latter, having put on his coat, turned
once more towards them.

"Oh, you are utterly wrong," the boy said forcibly, almost angrily. "If
you judge a man by what he does on impulse you might decorate the
biggest blackguard in the world with the V.C."

"You're made of impulse, my dear lad," Bertie remarked, walking off with
him. "You're a mass of impulse. That's why you do such idiotic things."

Charlie yielded, chafing, to the friendly hand.

"I should like to kick you, Bertie," he said.

But he went no further than that. Bertie Richmond was his very good
friend, and he was Bertie's. Neither of them was likely to forget that
fact.

VIII

"Oh, Charlie, here you are! I _am_ glad!"

Molly entered the smoking-room with an air of resolution. She had just
returned from evening church with Fisher. They were late, and the latter
had gone off to dress forthwith.

But Molly had glanced into the smoking-room, and, seeing Charlie alone
there, as she had half hoped but scarcely expected, she entered.

Charlie sprang up instantly, his brown face exceedingly alert.

"Come to the fire!" he said hospitably.

Molly went, but did not sit down. She stood facing him on the
hearth-rug. Her young face was very troubled.

"I want to tell you," she said steadily, "how sorry--and grieved--I am
for all the hard things I have said and thought of you. I would like to
retract them all. I was quite wrong. I took you for an idler--a buffoon
almost. I know better now. And I--I should like you to forgive me."

Her voice suddenly faltered. Her eyes were full of tears she could
neither repress nor conceal.

Charlie, however, seemed to notice nothing strained in the atmosphere.
He broke into a gay laugh and held out his hand.

"Oh, that's all right," he said briskly. "Shake hands and forget what
those asses said about me! You were quite right, you know. I am a
buffoon. There isn't an inch of heroism anywhere about me. You took my
measure long ago, didn't you? To change the subject, I'm most awfully
pleased to hear that you and old Fisher have come to an understanding.
Congratulate