She stared at him in amazement. Was this the Derry whose supply of
cheerfulness had seemed inexhaustible? Whose persistent optimism had
been at times exasperating to his friends?

Throughout the evening she was aware of his depression. She was aware,
too, of the mistake which she had made in bringing Derry and Captain
Hewes together.

The Captain had red hair and a big nose. But he was a gentleman in the
fine old English sense; he was a soldier with but one idea, that every
physically able man should fight. Every sentence that he spoke was
charged with this belief, and every sentence carried a sting for Derry.

More than once Peggy found it necessary to change the subject
frantically. Drusilla supplemented her efforts.

But gradually the Captain's manner froze. With a sort of military
sixth sense, he felt that he had been asked to break bread and eat salt
with a slacker, and he resented it.

After dinner Drusilla sang for them. Sensitive always to atmosphere,
she soothed the Captain with old and familiar songs, "Flow gently,
sweet Afton," and "Believe me if all those endearing young charms."

Then straight from these to "I'm going to marry 'Arry on the Fifth of
January."

"Oh, I say--Harry Lauder," was Captain Hewes' eager comment. "I heard
him singing to the chaps in the trenches just before I sailed--a little