"It's a ease of suspended activity. I want to get into the war--"

"Why don't you?"

"I can't leave Dad. Surely you can see that."

"I don't see it. He must reap, every man must."

"But there's more than that. My mother tied me by a promise. And
people are calling me a coward--even Dad thinks I am a slacker, and I
can't say to him, 'If you were more than the half of a man I might be a
whole one.'"

"Your mother couldn't have foreseen this war."

"It would have made no difference. Her world was centered in him. You
know, of course, Doctor, that I wouldn't have spoken of this to anyone
else--"

"My dear fellow, I am father confessor to half of my patients." The
Doctor's eyes were kind. "My lips will be sealed. But if you want my
advice I should throw the old man overboard. Let him sink or swim.
Your life is your own."

"It has never been my own." He went to a desk and took out an
envelope. "It's a rather sacred letter, but I want you to read it--I
read it for the first time last night."

When at last the Doctor laid the letter down, Derry said very low, "Do