The last half hour before the buggy came round to carry them to the station was spent by Betty in her mother's room. What passed between them none knew, but when Betty came out in her neat travelling dress, there were traces of tears in her eyes. Then came the hubbub of adieus, and more farewells had to be spoken at the gate of the paddock, where half the township had gathered to wish the bride and bridegroom farewell. Missiles of all description had been tabooed, but the kindly cheers of her neighbours, the eager outstretched hands which grasped hers, were a lovely ending to a happy life, thought Betty, as she drove off with her husband at her side. For she fully realised that one page of her life was folded down, but another page, very fair and white, was spread out before her.
What shall be written upon it is not for us to say. Some blots will surely blister it.
"Into each life some rain must fall,
Some days must be dark and dreary."
But now as Betty drives away with sunshine in her face and sunshine in her heart, we breathe the prayer that such days will be few and far between.
EPILOGUE
Extract from an English daily paper five years later.
"Special mention should be made of the amazing exhibition of prowess on the part of Lieutenant Stephens in yesterday's military aeronautic manoeuvres on Salisbury Plain. His aeroplane, the combined creation of his father and himself, is of such perfect construction that it is likely to make their name famous, and the Lieutenant's command of it left nothing to be desired. He executed feats of skill which have rarely been surpassed. England has just cause for pride in her present race of young men, prepared to face every danger in the service of their country, for it is an open secret that upon the efficiency of our air fleet, the future safety of our island home will very largely depend."
This paper, with others, was forwarded in due time to Mrs. Kenyon, who read aloud the paragraph just quoted to Eva, now a blooming girl of seventeen. She flew round the table and snatched it from her mother's hands.
"Let me read it for myself, mother. We shall all feel proud of him. He's playing our childish game of subduing giants to some purpose, isn't he? He's fairly earned his rights to his title of 'Jack, the Englishman.' I'm ever so glad. I'll run across to the farm and tell them about it."
Clarissa laughed at the girl's enthusiasm.