"Certainly," she said.
"Thank you. Don't forget, will you?" He kissed her cheek in a brotherly fashion, and said, with something of his old gaiety: "You are a capital creature, you know" You understand how important it is to feed a man well!"
"Cold beef!" she protested.
"Nothing could have been better, I assure you. Don't be alarmed if you hear some cannonading tomorrow! We shall have at least one Prussian corps with us, and we don't mean to lose this war, I promise you." He gave her shoulder a pat, and turned towards Barbara. She was looking pale, but perfectly composed, and held out her hand. He took it. "I don't know why you are here, but I'm glad you are," he said. "Forgive me if I seem dull and stupid. There is so much to say, but I've not time, and this is not the moment. I believe your friend Lavisse to be unhurt. I should have told you before."
"I am glad, but he is not so much my friend that it can concern me."
"Tired of him, Bab?" he said.
She winced. He said at once: "I'm sorry! That was shockingly rude of me." His hand gripped hers more tightly. "Goodbye, my dear. Now, Worth, if you please."
He released her hand, and turned from her to his brother. The corner of his heavy cloak just brushed her dress as he swung round on a spurred heel; he took Worth's arm, and walked to the door with him. "I'll take a couple of bottles of your champagne, Julian," he said, and the next instant was gone from Barbara's sight. She heard his voice on the stairs, as he went down with Worth. "By the by, the 10th did damned well today. They might have been on the parade ground. However, the rain put an end to the skirmishing."
Judith walked quickly to the door and shut it. "Skirmishing! Champagne!" she said with a strong indignation. "How could he? As though he had not a thought in his head but of divisions, and brigades, and regiments!"
"He hasn't," said Barbara.