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〃Why not？〃 he protested。 〃They won't let me fight again。 I couldn't stand the miserable routine of home soldiering。 I'd like to get away and forget it all。〃
〃I am sure you are not in earnest；〃 she said quietly。 〃No Englishman could feel like that。〃
〃He could if he cared for you；〃 Granet insisted。 〃I'm afraid of everything here； afraid that Thomson will come back and take you away； afraid of all sorts of hideous things happening during the next few months。〃
〃You mustn't talk like this； please；〃 she begged。 〃You know as well as I do that neither you nor I could turn our backs on England just now and be happy。〃
He opened his lips to speak but stopped short。 It was obvious that she was deeply in earnest。
〃And as for the other thing you spoke of；〃 she continued； 〃please won't you do as I beg you and not refer to it again for the present？ Perhaps；〃 she added； 〃when the war is over we may speak of it； but just now everything is so confused。 I； too； seem to have lost my bearings。 。 。 。You know that I am going out to Boulogne in a few days with Lady Headley's hospital？ Don't look so frightened。 I am not an amateur nurse； I can assure you。 I have all my certificates。〃
〃To Boulogne？〃 he muttered。 〃You are going to leave London？〃
She nodded。
〃Major Thomson arranged it for me； a few days ago。 We may meet there at any time；〃 she added； smiling。 〃I am perfectly certain that the War Office will find you something abroad very soon。〃
For a moment that queer look of boyish strength which had first attracted her； reasserted itself。 His teeth came together。
〃Yes；〃 he agreed； 〃there's work for me somewhere。 I'll find it。 Only〃
She checked him hurriedly。
〃And I am quite sure；〃 she interrupted； 〃that when you are yourself again you will agree with me。 These are not the times for us to have any selfish thoughts； are they？〃
〃Until a few weeks ago；〃 he told her； 〃I thought of nothing but the war and my work in ituntil you came； that is。〃
She held out her hands to check him。 Her eyes were eloquent。
〃Please remember；〃 she begged； 〃that it is too soon。 I can't bear to have you talk to me like that。 Afterwards〃
〃There will be no afterwards for me！〃 he exclaimed bitterly。
A shade of surprise became mingled with her agitation。
〃You mustn't talk like that；〃 she protested； 〃you with your splendid courage and opportunities！ Think what you have done already。 England wants the best of her sons to…day。 Can't you be content to give that and to wait？ We have so much gratitude in our hearts； we weak women； for those who are fighting our battle。〃
Her words failed to inspire him。 He took her hand and lifted her fingers deliberately to his lips。
〃I was foolish；〃 he groaned； 〃to think that you could feel as I do。 Good…bye！〃
Geraldine was alone when her mother came into the room a few minutes later。 Lady Conyers was looking a little fluttered and anxious。
〃Was that Captain Granet？〃 she asked。
Geraldine nodded。 Lady Conyers anxiety deepened。
〃Well？〃
〃I have sent him away；〃 Geraldine said quietly； 〃until the end of the war。〃
Granet brought his car to a standstill outside the portals of that very august club in Pall Mall。 The hall…porter took in his name and a few minutes his uncle joined him in the strangers' room。
〃Back again so soon； Ronnie？〃
Granet nodded。
〃America's off；〃 he announced shortly。 〃I thought I'd better let you know。 It must be the whole thing now。〃
Sir Alfred was silent for a moment。
〃Very well；〃 he said at last； 〃only remember this； my boythere must be no more risks。 You've been sailing quite close enough to the wind。〃
〃Did you call at the War Office？〃 Granet asked quickly。
His uncle assented。
〃I did and I saw General Brice。 He admitted in confidence that they weren't very keen about your rejoining。 Nothing personal；〃 he went on quickly； 〃nothing serious； that is to say。 There is a sort of impression out there that you've brought them bad luck。〃
Granet shrugged his shoulders。
〃Well；〃 he said； 〃they know their own business best。 What I am afraid of is being saddled with some rotten home duty。〃
〃You need not be afraid of that any more； Ronnie；〃 his uncle told him calmly。
Granet turned quickly around。
〃Do you mean that they don't want to give me anything at all？〃 he demanded anxiously。
Sir Alfred shook his head。
〃You are too impetuous； Ronnie。 They're willing enough to give you a home command； but I have asked that it should be left over for a little time； so as to leave you free。〃
〃You have something in your mind； thensomething definite？〃
Sir Alfred looked out of the window for a moment。 Then he laid his hand upon his nephew's shoulder。
〃I think I can promise you； Ronnie；〃 he said seriously； 〃that before many days have passed you shall have all the occupation you want。〃
CHAPTER XXVI
Surgeon…Major Thomson reeled for a moment and caught at the paling by his side。 Then he recovered himself almost as quickly； and； leaning forward； gazed eagerly at the long； grey racing…car which was already passing Buckingham Palace and almost out of sight in the slight morning fog。 There was a very small cloud of white smoke drifting away into space； and a faint smell of gunpowder in the air。 He felt his cheek and； withdrawing his fingers； gazed at them with a little nervous laughthey were wet with blood。
He looked up and down the broad pathway。 For nine o'clock in the morning the Birdcage Walk was marvellously deserted。 A girl； however； who had been driving a small car very slowly on the other side of the road； suddenly swung across； drew up by the kerb and leaned towards him。
〃HughMajor Thomson； what is the matter with you？〃
He dabbed his cheek with his pocket handkerchief。
〃Nothing；〃 he answered simply。
〃Don't be silly！〃 she exclaimed。 〃I felt certain that I heard a shot just now； and I saw you reel and spin round for a moment。 And your cheek； tooit's all over blood！〃
He smiled。
〃A bullet did come my way and just graze my cheek；〃 he admitted。 〃Most extraordinary thing。 I wonder whether one of those fellows in the Park had an accident with his rifle。〃
He glanced thoughtfully across towards where a number of khaki…clad figures were dimly visible behind the railings。 Geraldine looked at him severely。
〃Of course；〃 she began； 〃if you really think that I don't know the difference between the report of a pistol and a rifle shot〃
He interrupted her。
〃I was wrong；〃 he confessed。 〃Forgive me。 You see； my head was a little turned。 Some one did deliberately fire at me； and I believe it was from a grey racing…car。 I couldn't see who was driving it and it was out of sight almost at once。〃
〃But I never heard of such a thing！〃 she exclaimed。 〃Why on earth should they fire at you？ You haven't any enemies； have you？〃
〃Not that I know of；〃 he assured her。
She stepped from the car and came lightly over to his side。
〃Take your handkerchief away；〃 she ordered。 〃Don't be foolish。 You forget that I am a certificated nurse。〃
He raised his handkerchief and she looked for a moment at the long scar。 Her face grew serious。
〃Another half…inch；〃 she murmured；〃