He did not realize that Emily knew a great deal about dolls that
laughed and cried when you pulled a string. And that the world in
Emily's Toy Shop was not so very different from his own.

Alma, having turned a cold shoulder to Ralph, was still proclaiming her
opinion of Derry Drake to the rest of the table. "He is rich and young
and he doesn't want to die--"

"There are plenty of rich young men dying, Alma," said Mrs.
Witherspoon, "and it is probably as easy for them as for the poor
ones--"

"The poor ones won't mind being muddy and dirty in the trenches," said
Alma, "but I can't fancy Derry Drake without two baths a day--"

"I can't quite fancy him a slacker." There was a hint of satisfaction
in Mrs. Witherspoon's voice. Her son and Derry Drake had gone to
school together and to college. Derry had outdistanced Ralph in every
way; but now it was Ralph who was leaving Derry far behind.

Jean wished that they would stop talking. She felt as she might had
she seen a soldier stripped of sword and stripes and shamed in the eyes
of his fellows.

"Wasn't he in the draft?" she asked Ralph.

"Too old. He doesn't look it, does he? It's a bit hard for the rest
of us fellows to understand why he keeps out--"

"Doesn't he ever try to--explain?"