"Why, that's Willie Shepherd, and he is his mother's only support," whispered one of the women; "I don't think he should go."
When they went home that night Mrs. Winters told the Doctor what she had heard the women say, and even added her remonstrance too.
"This is no time for remonstrance," he had cried; "his mother will get along; the Patriotic Fund will look after her. I tell you human relationships are forgotten in this struggle! We must save our country. One broken heart more or less cannot be taken into consideration. Personal comfort must not be thought of. There is only one limit to service and sacrifice, and that is capacity."
Every night after that he addressed meetings, and every night recruits came to the colors. His speeches vibrated with the spirit of sacrifice and the glory of service, and thrilled every heart that listened, and no heart was more touched than that of his wife, who felt that no future in the world would be so happy as to go and care for the wounded men.
She made the suggestion one night, and was quite surprised to find that the Doctor regarded it favorably. All that night she lay awake from sheer joy: at last she was going to be of service—she was going to do something. She tried to tell herself of the hardships of the life, but nothing could dim her enthusiasm. "I hope it will be hard," she cried happily. "I want it hard to make up for the easy, idle years I have spent. I hate the ease and comfort and selfishness in which I have lived."
The next day her application went in and she began to attend the ambulance classes which were given in the little city by the doctors and nurses.
The Doctor was away so much that she was practically free to go and come as she liked, and the breath of liberty was sweet to her. She also saw, with further pangs of conscience, the sacrifices which other women were making. The Red Cross women seemed to work unceasingly.
The President of the Red Cross came to her office every morning at nine, and stayed till five.
"What about lunch?" Mrs. Winters asked her, one day. "Do you go home?"
"Oh, no," said the other woman; "I go out and get a sandwich."