“As long as that,” said the general with uplifted brows.
One sentence in his letter made music in Barry's heart.
“And oh, my heart's beloved, God has been good to me and to you, for when the war is over, I hope there will be two of us to welcome daddy back.” To which sentence Barry in his letter, written in immediate reply, said,
“Yes, dear, dear heart, God has been good to us, in that he has given us to each other, and to us both this wonderful new life to carry on when we are done.”
When the general returned, he found Barry with his face on his arms and dead asleep.
“Poor chap,” he said to his batman, “he is done up. Let him rest a bit.”
They gave him an hour, after which they had their bite together.
“Now, general,” said Barry, “I should like to run up to Battalion Headquarters. I might be of use there.”
“That's quite all right,” said the general. “You will be glad to know that that strong point has already been attended to. You didn't hear the row, did you?”
“No, sir.”