She turned away.
“You will write father to-night, won’t you?”
“Yes—yes!”
“I’ll wait, then, until we have had time to get a reply,” said the boy.
“Yes, and then you will go away. I know what your father’s answer will be. The last of my boys—Oh, God, my boys!”
CHAPTER II
A COMMISSION FROM THE PRESIDENT
The door giving entrance to the hall was opened unceremoniously by the rotund and privileged Martha. She came at an opportune time, relieving the tension between the mother and son. Wilfred was not insensible to his mother’s feelings, but he was determined to go to the front. He was glad of the interruption and rather shamefacedly took advantage of it by leaving the room.
“Well, Martha, what is it?” asked Mrs. Varney, striving to regain her composure.
“Deys one ob de men fum de hossiple heah, ma’am.”
“Another one?”