Part 44 (2/2)

It was not to be yet, but it was coming, slowly but surely, and Mrs.

Dashwood, in the old home with the green lawn sloping to the water's edge, wished a thousand times that she had been born a man that she might have taken her share in the great achievement.

A month pa.s.sed, and to the house in Regent's Park came a letter, written on a folding-table by the light of a candle stuck in a bottle, and in the writer's ears as he scrawled the lines was the tramp of the relief filing past his dug-out door.

”Darling little Mater,” wrote Dennis, ”I'm going to give you a surprise, unless the _Gazette's_ out already. You've heard me speak of Private Hawke of ours, the crack shot of my company, well, he and I have got three days' leave for a special reason.

The King is going to present Hawke with the V.C., which he has deserved over and over again, at Buckingham Palace next Thursday. Incidentally I might mention that I am also to receive it on the same day. Also the Military Cross, likewise the D.S.O. It makes me positively blush as I sit here, and I really believe I'm the most fortunate beggar in the whole of our crush, if not in the Army.

”Don't make any mistake, dear, it has been sheer luck on my part. I've just happened to be there at the right moment. Some beggars who have done far more than I have have got nothing--but there it is.

”By the way, the French have been awfully decent to me.

Somehow, Joffre got to know about a little sc.r.a.p I had when the French attacked a German trench, and I helped to carry out the commandant, who was badly wounded. They have given me their Military Medal for that, and for inducing a German company to surrender I've got the Croix de Guerre, their newest decoration, you know; and I'll be hanged, but on top of it all the Cross of the Legion of Honour has come along for a little air raid into the Black Forest with a charming _pilote-aviateur_ named Laval. It was really only a sort of joy ride, but I managed to bring Laval back after he was. .h.i.t. Thank goodness, they tell me he's almost well again, and I must say I like the French awfully.

”I never told you anything about that business, because I was afraid you might think I was risking my neck unnecessarily, but you know, dear, one's got to do it on a job like this. And oh, I say, what a pig I am, ga.s.sing about myself before I tell you that dear old Bob is coming over with us to receive the M.C.

It's an awfully pretty thing with silver-and-blue ribbon--and--though mind you, mater, this is not to be put about yet in case it doesn't come off--but there's a strong rumour round here that the Governor's to have a division! Haig was awfully delighted at the way he handled that business about a month ago--I mean when we downed your old friend Van Drissel.

Hope you are not running any more refugees, eh, what? Now be at the station to meet us, and if you like to kiss Hawke, you may.

He's saved my life more than once.”

Mrs. Dashwood closed her eyes, and her lips moved in silent prayer. She was thanking Heaven that her husband and sons were ”making good” in the hour of her country's triumph!

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