'
'I wish it would,' said Archie ferociously. 'Mother!'
'Yes, darling?'
'But what's the matter with father? He seems quite well.'
'Oh, he isn't very well. He suffers from nerves.'
'Nerves! What's nerves?'
'I think, darling, it's time for us to start. Where's your coat?'
She drove him to the station. Most of the way he was very silent As she
put him in the train he said.
'Mother, give my love to Aylmer.'
'All right, dear.'
He then said:
'Mother, I wish Aylmer was my father.'
'Oh, Archie! You mustn't say that.'
* * * * *
But she never forgot the boy's remark. It had a stronger influence on
her action later than anything else. She knew Archie had always had a
great hero-worship for Aylmer. But that he should actually prefer him
to Bruce!
She didn't tell Aylmer that for a long time afterwards.
* * * * *
Before returning to the front Teddy had become so violently devoted to
Miss Clay that she was quite glad to see him go. She received his
attentions with calm and cool friendliness, but gave him not the
smallest encouragement. She was three years older, but looked younger
than her age, while Teddy looked much older, more like twenty-two.
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