And the army thinks all
civilians are on the make - which is pretty nearly true."
He saw the Secretary of War, finally, and came away feeling better.
He had found there an understanding that a man may - even should
- make sacrifices for his country during war. But, although he
carried away with him the conviction that his offer would ultimately
be accepted, there was nothing actually accomplished. He sent
Hutchinson back, and waited for a day or two, convinced that his
very sincerity must bring a concrete result, and soon.
Then, lunching alone one day in the Shoreham, he saw Audrey
Valentine at another table. He had not seen her for weeks, and
he had an odd moment of breathlessness when his eyes fell on her.
She was pale and thin, and her eyes looked very tired. His first
impulse was to go to her. The second, on which he acted, was to
watch her for a little, to fill his eyes for the long months of
emptiness ahead.
She was with a man in uniform, a young man, gay and smiling.
Pages:
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429