Part 36 (1/2)

Twyning's genial expression hardened under these questions, but he said, still on his first note of confidential affection, ”Ah, because he thinks they ought to do their duty without being bribed. Quite right, too. No, it's a difficult position for me. My idea is not to give way to the boy's wishes for a few months while he establishes his position here, and then, if men are still wanted, why of course he'll go. Sound, don't you think, old man?”

Sabre disengaged his arm and turned into his own room. ”Well, I think this is a business in which you can't judge any one. I think every man is his own judge.”

An astonis.h.i.+ng rasp came into Twyning's voice. ”How old are you?”

”Thirty-six. Why?”

Twyning laughed away the rasp. ”Ah, I'm older. I daresay you'll have a chance later on, if the _Times_ and the _Morning Post_ and those cla.s.s papers have their way. And you've got no family, have you, old man?”

III

That was in the third month of the war. But by June, 1915, the position on these little points had hardened. In June, ”Why aren't you in khaki?”

was blowing about the streets. Questions looked out of eyes. Certain men avoided one another. And in June young Harold joined up. Sabre greeted the news with very great warmth. Towards Harold he had none of the antipathy that was often aroused in him by Harold's father. He shook the good-looking young man very heartily by the hand. ”By Jove, I'm glad.

Well done, Harold. That's splendid. Jolly good luck to you.”

Later in the morning Twyning came in. He entered abruptly. His air, and when he spoke, his manner, struck Sabre as being deliberately aggressive. ”Well, Harold's gone,” he said.

”Yes, I'm jolly glad for the boy's sake. I was just congratulating him.

I think it's splendid of him.”

Twyning breathed heavily through his nose. ”Splendid? Hur! He wanted to go long ago. Well, he's gone now and I hope you're satisfied.”

Sabre turned in his chair and questioned Twyning with puckered brows.

”Satisfied? What on earth do you mean--satisfied?”

”You always thought he ought to go. You're one of those who've sent him off. My boy saw it.”

”You're talking nonsense. I've never so much as mentioned the subject to Harold. I told you long ago that I think every man's his own judge, and sole judge, in this business.”

Twyning always retracted when Sabre showed signs of becoming roused.

”Ah, well, what does it matter? He's gone now. He'll be in this precious khaki to-night. No one can point at him now.” He drew out a handkerchief and wiped his eyes slowly. He stared inimically at Sabre. ”I'll tell you one thing, Sabre. You wait till you've got a son, then you'll think differently, perhaps. You don't know what my boy means to me. He's everything in the world to me. I got him in here so as to have him with me and now this cursed war's taken him. You don't know what he is, my boy Harold. He's a better man than his father, I'll tell you that. He's a good Christian boy. He's never had a bad thought or said a bad word.”

He broke off. He rammed his handkerchief into his trouser pocket. As though the sight of Sabre sitting before him suddenly infuriated him he broke out, ”It's all right for you sitting there. You're not going.

Never mind. My boy Harold's gone. You're satisfied. All right.”

Sabre got up. ”Look here, Twyning, I'm sorry for you about Harold. I make allowances for you. But--”

When Twyning was angry his speech sometimes betrayed that on which he was most sensitive. ”I don't want you to make no allowances for me. I don't--”

”You've repeated the stupid implication you made when you first came in.”

Twyning changed to a hearty laugh. ”Oh, I say, steady, old man. Don't let's have a row. Nothing to have a row about, old man. I made no implication. Whatever for should I? No, no, I simply said '_All_ right.'

I say people have sent my boy Harold off, and I'm merely saying '_All_ right. He's gone. Now perhaps you're satisfied.' Not you, old man. Other people.” He paused. His tone hardened. ”_All_ right. That's all, old man. _All_ right.”

IV

Not very long after this incident occurred another incident. In its obvious aspect it was also related to the ”Why aren't you in khaki?”