“How do you do, mother?” he said. “You didn’t expect me back so soon, did you? I will tell you how it was. Don’t you go away, orderly. I will just rest a minute, and then I will go back with you.” Another outburst of the cannon and the frantic pealing of the alarm bells caught his attention. “See, they are ringing the bells calling out the reserves.” He started toward the door. “I will go right now.”
“No, no, Wilfred,” said his mother, taking his arm; “not now, my son.”
“Not now?” said Wilfred, whose weakness was growing apparent. “Do you hear those—those—those bells and—then tell me not—to go—why——”
He swayed and tottered.
“Stand by there!” cried the Sergeant.
The two men immediately caught hold of him as he fainted. They carried him to the lounge.
“Find some water, will you?” continued the Sergeant. “Put his head down, ma’am, and he’ll be all right in a minute. He’s only fainted.”
One of the privates who had hurried off in search of water soon came back with a basin full, with which Mrs. Varney laved the boy’s head.
“He’ll be all right in a minute,” said the Sergeant. “Come, men.”
He turned as he spoke, and, followed by the men, left the room, leaving Mrs. Varney with Wilfred and the orderly. It was the latter who broke the silence.