that of being dismissed. Somehow it was clear that
Rose was not as interested in the piece of good news
as her mother had thought she would be. And so
Mrs. Otway went downstairs again, grieving a little
at her child's curious, cold indifference to the lot of
one who had been so much in and out of their house
during the last two years.

Eager for sympathy, she went into the kitchen.
"Oh, Anna," she exclaimed, "Mr. Blake is going
into the Army after all! I'm so pleased. He is so
happy!"

"Far more than Major Guthrie young Mr. Blake
the figure of a good officer has," observed Anna
thoughtfully. Anna had always liked Jervis Blake.
In the old days that now seemed so long ago he would
sometimes come with Miss Rose into her kitchen,
and talk his poor, indifferent German. Then they
all three used to laugh heartily at the absurd mistakes
he made.

And now, to her mistress's astonishment, old Anna
suddenly burst into loud, noisy sobs.

"Anna, what _is_ the matter?"

"Afflicted I am----" sobbed the old woman. And
then she stopped, and began again: "Afflicted I am
to think, gracious lady, of that young gentleman,
who to me kind has been, killing the soldiers of my
country."

"I don't suppose he will have the chance of killing
any of them," said Mrs. Otway hastily. "You really
mustn't be so silly, Anna! Why, the War will be over
long before Mr. Blake is ready to go out. They always
keep the young men two years at Sandhurst. That's
the name of the officers' training college, you know."

[[123]]

p122 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p123w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p124

v?