"Ay, I have joined the Army."
"Thou'st noan been such a fool?"
"I have noan been a fool," said Tom, "I couldn't help it."
Polly Powell looked at him rather angrily, then she said: "If you have done it, what do you want to speak to me about it for?"
"I shall be off to-morrow," replied Tom. "The recruiting officer told me I must report at the Town Hall to-morrow morning at ten o'clock."
"Where will you go?" she asked.
"I don't know," said Tom.
"Well, what are you waiting for?"
"I thought," said Tom, "that is—I thought as I was going away
I'd—I'd—— Look here, Polly, you are going to keep true to me while
I'm away, aren't you?"
"I never thought much of soldiers," said Polly. "Besides——"