Part 34 (1/2)

'Go to the devil--oh, send Binkie in here.'

The little dog entered on elastic feet, riotous from having been made much of all the evening. He had helped to sing the choruses; but scarcely inside the studio he realised that this was no place for tail-wagging, and settled himself on d.i.c.k's lap till it was bedtime.

Then he went to bed with d.i.c.k, who counted every hour as it struck, and rose in the morning with a painfully clear head to receive Torpenhow's more formal congratulations and a particular account of the last night's revels.

'You aren't looking very happy for a newly accepted man,' said Torpenhow.

'Never mind that--it's my own affair, and I'm all right. Do you really go?'

'Yes. With the old Central Southern as usual. They wired, and I accepted on better terms than before.'

'When do you start?'

'The day after to-morrow--for Brindisi.'

'Thank G.o.d.' d.i.c.k spoke from the bottom of his heart.

'Well, that's not a pretty way of saying you're glad to get rid of me.

But men in your condition are allowed to be selfish.'

'I didn't mean that. Will you get a hundred pounds cashed for me before you leave?'

'That's a slender amount for housekeeping, isn't it?'

'Oh, it's only for--marriage expenses.'

Torpenhow brought him the money, counted it out in fives and tens, and carefully put it away in the writing table.

'Now I suppose I shall have to listen to his ravings about his girl until I go. Heaven send us patience with a man in love!' he said to himself.

But never a word did d.i.c.k say of Maisie or marriage. He hung in the doorway of Torpenhow's room when the latter was packing and asked innumerable questions about the coming campaign, till Torpenhow began to feel annoyed.

'You're a secretive animal, d.i.c.kie, and you consume your own smoke, don't you?' he said on the last evening.

'I--I suppose so. By the way, how long do you think this war will last?'

'Days, weeks, or months. One can never tell. It may go on for years.'

'I wish I were going.'

'Good Heavens! You're the most unaccountable creature! Hasn't it occurred to you that you're going to be married--thanks to me?'

'Of course, yes. I'm going to be married--so I am. Going to be married.

I'm awfully grateful to you. Haven't I told you that?'

'You might be going to be hanged by the look of you,' said Torpenhow.

And the next day Torpenhow bade him good-bye and left him to the loneliness he had so much desired.