And for one brief moment he had doubted her—might God forgive him!
Ruth asked him how recruiting was going.
"Well," replied the Colonel. "They're flocking in—men of all ages, classes, and creeds. I shipped off Burt this morning; and he's forty. Wanted to join the Hammer-men or Manchesters with his friend Tawney; but I said No: every man his own job, and sent him off to the flying folk as air-mechanic. He's joining up at Newhaven to-night, and in a week he'll be out there."
Ruth asked if there was any news of the Expeditionary Force.
"They're landed all right," the Colonel replied. "We should soon hear more. Our battalion's with the Fourth Division. If you go up on the Head you can see the transports crossing from Newhaven with the stuff."
"Think it'll be all right, sir?" asked Ruth.
"If we can stop their first rush," the Colonel answered. "Every day tells. We can't be too thankful for Liége, though Namur's a nasty knock."
Ruth looked across the sea.
"I wish we could do something for em," she said wistfully.
"We can," answered the Colonel sharply, almost sternly.