III
"I've wormed it out of Betty," he said to Lambert on the way back to barracks.
He added congratulations, heartfelt, accompanied by a firm clasp of the hand; but Lambert seemed scarcely to hear, couldn't wait for George to finish before breaking in.
"You and Betty have always been like brother and sister. She says so. I've seen it myself."
George was a trifle uncomfortable.
"What of it?"
"If you get a chance point out to her in your brotherly way that the sooner she marries me the more time we'll have together outside of heaven. I can't very well go at her on that tack. Sounds slushy, but you know there's a good chance of my not coming home, and she insists on waiting."
With all his soul George shrank from such a task. He glanced at the other's long, athletic limbs.
"There are worse fates than widowhood for war brides," he said, brutally.
Lambert made a wry face.