"If this war hadn't happened we'd have had to have thought of something else."
So they went and broke their news to Reuben. They were careful and considerate—but he was knocked out by the blow.
"Going!—both of you!" he cried.
"We feel we've got to. They want all the young men."
"But you could help your country just as well by staying at höame and growing corn."
"You can grow corn without us—we're wanted out there."
"But you're all I've got—one go, and t'other stay."
"No, we must stick together."
"Oh, I know, I know—you've always thought more of each other than of your father or of Odiam."
"Don't say that, dad—we care for you very much, and we're coming back."