"There is no doubt about war, is there?" she asked.
"It may come at any hour. Whether it will mean an American army in France or not, no one can say; but we shall have to furnish munitions, if not men, as fast as we can turn them out."
"Mr. Peyton said this morning it would be impossible to send men because we hadn't the ships."
Blackburn laughed. "Then, if necessary, we will do the impossible." It was the voice of America. Everywhere at that hour men were saying, "We will do the impossible."
"I should like to go," said Caroline. "I should like above all things to go."
They had stopped in the road, and still holding Letty's hand, he looked over her head at Caroline's face. "Miss Meade, will you make me a promise?"
Clear and radiant and earnest, her eyes held his gaze. "Unconditionally?"
"No, the conditions I leave to you. Will you promise?"
"I will promise." She had not lowered her eyes, and he had not looked away from her. Her face was pale, and in the fading sunlight he could see the little blue veins on her temples and the look of stern sweetness that sorrow had chiselled about her mouth. More than ever it seemed to him the face of a strong and fervent spirit rather than the face of a woman. So elusive was her beauty that he could say of no single feature, except her eyes, "Her charm lies here—or here——" yet the impression she gave him was one of magical loveliness. There was, he thought, a touch of the divine in her smile, as if her look drew its radiance from an inexhaustible source.
"Will you promise me," he said, "that whatever happens, as long as it is possible, you will stay with Letty?"