The hour, the country and the enemy all demanded the man
on the horse. With Lord Kitchener in the field and the colonies
aiding the mother country, the outcome was only a matter of time;
but few could as yet say when the fulness of that time should be at
hand.
"But it leaves me a good deal puzzled in my mind," Weldon said
thoughtfully.
"How do you mean?" Ethel Dent threw the question at him a little
defiantly.
"About going home."
"Surely, you aren't going now?"
He winced at the accent.
"I am not sure. I volunteered for six months. My time is up; I paid
my official visit to the Citadel yesterday."
"Are you needed at home?"
"No. At least, not in any real sense."
"But you are needed here."
"There are enough without me, and the need will not last long."
"Don't be too sure. On the Dunottar Castle, there were plenty of
people who laughed at you men for coming out to volunteer, after the
war was over. You have proved that they laughed at nothing. Prove it
again."
Rising, he walked the length of the room and stood looking out from
the long front window. The bamboo screens and the willow chairs were
gone from their veranda corner; the flower-boxes were empty now, and
Table Bay gleamed coldly back at him in the late afternoon sun of
midwinter.
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