“What’s the matter, Brace?” she asked, and the hard, metallic ring was in her voice. Northrup misunderstood the change. He felt that he had startled her. He sat down upon the arm of the chair.
“Poor little girl,” he whispered. Kathryn also misunderstood, she nestled against him.
“Big man,” she murmured, “he is going to be nice. Kiss me here––close behind my right ear––always and always that is going to be just your place.”
Northrup did not seem to hear. He bent closer until his face pressed the soft, scented hair, but he did not kiss the spot dedicated to him. Instead he said:
“Darling, I am going away!”
“Away––where?” Kathryn became rigid.
“Overseas.”
“Overseas? What for, in heaven’s name?”
“Oh! anything they’ll let me do. I’m going as soon as I can be sent––but–––”
“You mean, without any reason whatever, you’re going to go over there?”