She knitted her brows wistfully. "Yes, of course. Only—it seems rather hard on—the wives and mothers."
"You never said a truer word, little woman. That's why they need to have such good grit in them,—don't you see?"
"Yes—I see. But mayn't you just get out of the way of a bullet if you happen to see it coming?"
Desmond shook his head.
"One generally happens to feel it before one gets a chance of seeing it," he said. "But now, let's have done with nonsense. Buckle on my sword and we'll go to breakfast. The whole house is astir."
She set the leathern belt round his waist, and tried to fasten it; but her fingers trembled in spite of herself, and a mist blinded her eyes. He took the heavy strap from her very gently, and fastened it himself.
"You won't change and ride out a little way with us as the others mean to?" he asked.
"N—no; I couldn't. I don't want to make you ashamed of me, Theo."
For answer he held out his arms; and there was a long silence in the dimly lighted room.
Then he led her to the door of their room, and himself went out to the breakfast-table with a brisk elasticity of tread. He would not have been the man he was, if even the pang of parting could altogether quench his ardour to be gone.