"If I be I as I suppose I be," he replied, giving her his arm again, and

as they turned towards the conservatory, adding, "Many such things have

happened, and I did not know whether you meant this."

"That was the reason you made so light of it."

"What, because I thought it was somebody else?"

"No, the contrary reason; but I cannot understand why you let me go on

without telling me."

"I never interfere when a story is so perfect in itself."

"But is my story perfect in itself?" said Rachel, "or is it the

contrary?"

"No one knows less of the particulars than I do," he answered. "I think

your version was that it was an hospital tent that the shell came into.

It was not that, but a bungalow, which was supposed to be out of range.

It stood on a bit of a slope, and I thought I should have been able to

kick the shell down before it had time to do mischief."

"But you picked it up, and took it to the door--I mean, did you?" said

Rachel, who was beginning to discover that she must ask Alick Keith

a direct question, if she wished to get an answer, and she received a

gesture of assent.

"I was very blind," she said, humbly, "and now I have gone and insisted

to poor Emily Grey that you never did any such thing."

"Thank you," he said; "it was the greatest kindness you could do me."

"Ah! your sister said you had the greatest dislike to hero worship."

"A natural sense of humbug," he said. "I don't know why they gave me

this," he added, touching his cross, "unless it was that one of the

party in the bungalow had a turn for glorifying whatever happened to

himself. Plenty of more really gallant things happened every day, and

were never heard of, and I, who absolutely saw next to nothing of the

campaign, have little right to be decorated."

"Ah!" said Rachel, thoughtfully, "I have always wondered whether one

would be happier for having accomplished an act of heroism."

"I do not know," said Alick, thoughtfully; then, as Rachel looked

up with a smile of amazement, "Oh, you mean this; but it was mere

self-preservation. I could hardly even have bolted, for I was laid up

with fever, and was very shaky on my legs."

"I suppose, however," said Rachel, "that the vision of one's life in

entering the army would be to win that sort of distinction, and so

young."

"Win it as some have done," said Alick, "and deserve what is far better

worth than distinction. That may be the dream, but, after all, it is

the discipline and constant duty that make the soldier, and are far more

really valuable than exceptional doings."




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