  It was something more than four years later, when the Armistice was signed amid world-wide rejoicings of the Allied Nations, that a young soldier, bronzed and upright, rang the bell of a beautiful flat in Brighton, over-looking the sea. Above his breast pocket, on the left, were two ribbons, the D.S.O. and the M.C., the sight of which had won him glances of approval and soft looks of admiration, all the way along. Those bits of ribbon told wordlessly of self-sacrifice and devotion to duty; valour and endurance;—they suggested to the subconscious mind, danger, bodily discomfort, and endurance to the limit of human suffering, so that this brisk little freckled officer of very ordinary looks, was marked for all time, by those who knew, as one of the many special heroes of the most terrible war the world has ever known. He was shown into the drawing-room, and, in a moment, a gracious lady swept in with welcome in her eyes and both hands extended. "Oh, Tommy!—how good it is to see you safe!" "And to see you looking so fit, Honey—dear old girl!" "I was beginning to feel quite anxious, as you had not written for a month!" "There was so much doing. Besides, I was reserving it all for our meeting." They had much to talk about; he, of his vicissitudes in Mesopotamia, and she, of her husband and his work in the war-hospital in Brighton to which he was attached. Last of all, Tommy asked to see his god-son to whom he had yet to be introduced. "He is such a perfect darling!" said Honor beaming upon her visitor happily; "the very image of Brian." Pressing a bell, she gave her orders which were promptly obeyed by a nurse who entered with the baby, a lusty boy with grey-green eyes, and lips firmly locked in a cupid's bow. "Hullo!" said Tommy, "shake hands with 'Uncle'!" "Say, 'How do'?" said Honor, kissing the velvet cheek. "'Ow do!" said Baby staring at the pretty coloured ribbons on the khaki tunic. "This is the age at which I like them best," said Tommy admiringly. "He's 'some' kid! Do you remember trying to interest me in the Meredith infant when it was a glorified dummy in long clothes?" "Yes, and you wasted your energies trying to fix its attention when it did not know you from a mango tree!" They laughed heartily at the recollection. "Where are the Merediths, by the way?" "They are stationed at Darjeeling, which suits the baby very well—perhaps you don't know that there is another baby?" "I believe Jack wrote something of the sort, some little time back." "A baby girl this time, and getting on splendidly." "Where is the first?—still with the grandparents?" "Yes. I saw him not long ago—such a beautiful boy and so independent! The old people are so proud of him. Do you know that Jack and Kitty are at home?" "No! When did they come? I did not know that women were allowed passages?" "They managed to 'wangle' it, somehow. Jack had malaria and was ordered home by the doctors. It was a most exciting voyage, from all accounts, for their boat was chased by a submarine in the Bay of Biscay and escaped two torpedoes by a miracle." "Horrible!" "Kitty says she would not have missed the experience for anything; but Jack declares the anxiety has taken ten years off his life." "Dear old Jack! Where are they? I shall look them up." "Staying with his people. They are in love with Kitty and can't make enough of her." "And what are your plans now that the war is over?" "Brian expects to return to India, in which case, we go with him." "You'll take the baby?" "Most assuredly! Master Tommy is not going to be left behind by his Mummy—not on any account!" "But the climate? I thought it does not agree with babies?" "It agrees quite well; at least for the first few years. I am not so sure about it later on, but, 'sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.' We'll begin to think about sending him home when he turns seven. You see, we have the hills, and life is too short for unnecessary partings." "I am with you there! How are Mr. and Mrs. Bright?" "As usual, thank you. Father retires after the New Year, and they will live in Edinburgh. And what of your plans, Tommy?" "I dare say I shall be back in the Police again, before long." "And have you not found any one yet as a life-partner, to make India worth while?" she asked kindly. Tommy smiled. "I am in no hurry, being difficult to please. I shall have to find the lady whose price, according to old Solomon, is 'far above rubies,' or remain in single blessedness all my days." "You'll find her right enough if you know where to look, and how!" said Honor laughing. "Her natural element is the country home." THE END. |
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