The Doctor lifted his shrewd kind face, and eyed the other through his pince-nez.
"Fear plays its part too," he said. "We none of us can do without the Lash as yet."
CHAPTER XVI
FATHER, MOTHER AND SON
There was no difficulty with Edward Caspar.
He had made an immense effort and fought about the Colonies. Easily spent, he would not fight again. Moreover, Ernie committed to the Army was committed for a few years only, and not for life; and some of his service might very well be passed in England. In Edward Caspar too, pacifist though he personally inclined to be, there was no inherited prejudice to overcome: for the Beauregards had been soldiers for generations.
Mr. Trupp came to talk things over; and that evening, as father and son sat together in the study, Edward Caspar said out of the silence, very quietly,
"Boy-lad, it's best you should go."
"I shall go all right, dad," the boy answered, feigning a cheerfulness he by no means felt. "Don't you worry."
"Mother wants it," the other continued.