"SurelyIwill。You’llbeallright，oldboy，Godblessyou！Goodluck，Ewen！"
　　Thenleaningovertheboy，headdedinalowvoice，"Rememberyouarenotallalone。Godiswithyou。Youwon’tforgetthat！"
　　"Iwon’t，sir。Iknowitwell，"saidEwenearnestly。
　　Mostofthestretchercaseshadbeenhurriedaway。Onlyafewofthemoreseriouslywoundedremained。AsBarryturnedawayfromthecar，hesawthemedicalofficerandsergeantmajorapproachinghim。
　　"Aterriblebusiness，"saidBarry，inahorror—strickenvoice。
　　"Splendidchaps。Howpluckytheyare！"
　　TheM。O。madenoreply，butcomingclosetoBarry，heputhisarmthroughhis，thesergeantmajortakinghimbytheotherarm。
　　"Isay，Barry，oldchap，"saidtheM。O。inagravevoice，callinghimforthefirsttimebyhisfirstname。"Thereissomeoneherethatyouknowwell。"
　　"SomeoneIknow，"saidBarry，standingstillandlookingfromonetotheother。
　　"Ay，sir。Someoneweallknowandgreatlyrespect，"repliedthesergeantmajor。
　　"Not——not——oh，notmyfather！"
　　TheM。O。nodded。
　　"Bad，doctor？Notdying，doctor？"Hisfacewaswhiteeveninspiteofhistan。Hishandsclosedaboutthedoctor’sarminagripthatreachedtothebone。
　　"No，notdying，Barry，butinabadway，Ifear。"
　　"Takeme，"mutteredBarry，inadazedway，andtheymovedtogetherrapidlyacrosstheplatform。
　　"Waitamoment，doctor，"saidBarry，breathinghard。
　　Theystoodstill，asilentandsympatheticgroupofsoldiersaboutthem。Barryturnedfromthem，walkedafewsteps，hisclaspedhandswrithingbeforehim，thenstoodwithhisfaceupliftedtotheskyforafewmoments。
　　"Allright，doctor，I’llfollow，"hesaid，comingquietlyback。
　　"Willheknowme？"
　　"Surething，sir，"saidthesergeantmajorcheerily。"Hewasaskingforyou。"
　　Onastretcher，waitingtobeliftedintotheambulance，hefoundhisfather，lyingwhiteandstill。
　　"Dad！"criedBarry，droppingtohiskneesbesidehim。Heputhisarmsaroundhimonthestretcher，andkissedhimonbothcheeksandonthelips。Theyalldrewbackfromthestretcherandturnedtheirbacksuponthetwo。
　　"Barry，myboy。ThankthegoodGod！IfearedIwouldnotseeyou。
　　It’sallrightnow。Everythingisallrightnow。Ican’tputmyarmsaroundyou，boy。Ihaven’tanyleft。"
　　Barry’sshuddershookthestretcher。
　　"Dad，dad，oh，dad！"hewhispered，overandoveragain。
　　"It’sallright，"whisperedhisfather。"Wemustnotforgetwe’resoldiers。Helpmetokeepup，boy。I’mnotverystrong。"
　　ThatpitifulworddidforBarrywhatnothingelsecoulddo。Heliftedhishead，stoodupanddrewadeepbreath。
　　"Surething，dad，"hesaid，inaclear，steadyvoice。"Imustn’tkeepyou。"
　　Hemotionedtothebearers。Thensuddenlyrecollectingthathisdutywouldcallhimawayfromhisfather，heturnedtotheM。O。，anagonyofsupplicationinhisvoice。
　　"Oh，doctor，mustIleavehimhere？"heaskedinalowtone。
　　Justthenanorderlycamerunninguptohim，and，saluting，said：
　　"Sir，theCommandingOfficersaysyouaretoremainbehindwithyourfather——till——till——"
　　"Untilyouaresentfor，"saidtheM。O。"Iwillseetothat。"
　　"Where’stheCommandingOfficer？"criedBarry，startingforward。
　　"Hehasgoneoffsomewheres，sir。Hewassorryhecouldn’tcomehimself，buthewascalledaway。Hesentthatmessagetoyou。"
　　"Doctor，willyouremembertothanktheCommandingOfficerforme？"hesaidbriefly，andturnedtofollowhisfatherintotheambulance，whichhediscoveredtobeinchargeofhisfriend，thesergeantoftheR。A。M。C。
　　Atthehospitalhewasreceivedwitheverymarkofsolicitouscare。
　　Hewasmadetofeelthathewasamongfriends。
　　"Howlong，doctor？"heasked，afterthedoctorhadfinishedhisexamination。
　　"Notlong，I’mafraid。Afewhours，perhapsaday。Hewillnotsufferthough，"saidthedoctor。"But，"headded，takingBarrybythearm，"heisveryweak，remember，andmustnotbeexcited。"
　　"Iknow，doctor，"saidBarry，quietly。"Iwon’tworryhim。"
　　ThroughthemorningBarrysatbyhisfather’scot，givinghim，underthedirectionsofthenurse，suchstimulantsasheneeded，nowandthenspeakingaquiet，cheeryword。
　　Oftenhisfatheropenedhiseyesandsmiledathim。
　　"Goodtoseeyouthere，myboy。Thatwasmyonlygrief。IfearedImightnotseeyouagain。ThankthegoodGodthatheallowedmetoseeyou。"
　　"Heisgood，dad，isn’tHe？Goodtome；goodtousboth。"
　　"Yes，Heisgood，"saidhisfather，andfellasleep。Foralmosttwohoursheslept，asleepofexhaustion，duetotheterrificstrainofthepastforty—eighthours，andwokerefreshed，calmandstrong。
　　"Youarealotbetter，dad，"saidBarry。"Ibelieveyouaregoingtopullthrough，eh！"
　　"Alotbetter，Barry，"saidhisfather，"but，myboy，wearesoldiers，youandI。Ishallnotbelong，butremember，wearesoldiers。"
　　"Allright，dad。I’lltrytoplaythegame。"
　　"That’stheword，Barry。Wemustplaythegame，andbyGod’sgracewewill，youandI——ourlastgametogether。"
　　Throughtheafternoontheytalked，betweenintervalsofsleep，resolvedeachtohelptheotherinplayingtotheend，inthemannerofBritishsoldiers，thatlast，greatgame。
　　Theytalked，ofcourse，ofhomeandtheirhappydaystogether，goingfarbackintotheearlieryearsofstruggleontheranch。
　　"Harddays，Barry，theywere，butyourmotherneverfailedme。
　　Wonderfulcourageshehad，andifwewereallright，youandI，Barry，shewasalwayshappy。Doyourememberher？"
　　"Yes，dad，quitewell。Irememberhersmilingalways。"
　　"Smiling，myGod！Smilingthroughthosedays。Yes，that’sthewaysheplayedthegame，andthat’stheonlyway，boy。"
　　"Yes，dad，"saidBarry，andhissmilewasbrighterthanever，buthisknucklesshowedwhitewherehegrippedthechair。
　　Thenursecameandwent，wonderingattheirbrightfacesandtheircheeryvoices。Theykepttheirmindsupontheoldhappydays。
　　Theyrecalledtheircanoetrips，theirhuntingexperiences，dwellingmostlyuponthehumorousincidents，playingthegame。Ofthewartheyspokelittle；notatallofwhatwastobeafter——thepast，thegolden，happypast，richinloveandincomradeship，thatwastheironetheme。
　　Asnightfell，thefathergrewweary，andhisperiodsofsleepgrewlonger，buteverashewokehefoundhisson’sfacesmilingdownuponhim。
　　"Goodboy，Barry，"hesaidonce，withanunderstandinglookandanansweringsmile。"Don’ttrytoohard，myboy。"
　　"It’sallright，dad。Iassureyouit’sallright。Youknowitis。"
　　"Iknow，Iknow，myboy，"hesaid，andfellasleepagain。
　　Asthemidnighthourdrewon，Barry’shead，fromsheerweariness，sunkuponhisbreast。Inhissleephebecameawareofsomeonenearhim。Hesatup，dazedandstupidfromhisexhaustionandhisgrief，andfoundanurseathisside。
　　"Takethis，"shesaidsoftly。"Youwillneedit。"Shesetatrayathisside。
　　"Oh，thankyou，no！"hesaid。"Ican’teat。Ican’ttouchanything。"
　　"Youneedit，"saidthenurse。"Youmusttakeit，forhissake，youknow。Hewillneedyou。"
　　Hervoicearousedhim。Heglancedatherface。
　　"Oh，it’syou！"hecried。
　　ItwasthelittleV。A。D。
　　"Don’trise，"shesaid，puttingherhandonhisshoulder，andpointingtohisfather。"Drinkthisfirst。"Shehandedhimaneggnog。"Nowtakeyourtea。"Therewasaquietauthorityaboutherthatcompelledobedience。Heateinsilencewhileshestoodbesidehim。Hewastoowearyandtoosickathearttotalk，buthegraduallybecameawarethattheoverpoweringsenseoflonelinessthathadbeenwithhimalldaywasgone。
　　Whenhehadfinishedhisslightmeal，hewhisperedtoher：
　　"IwishIcouldthankyou，butIcan’t。Ididneedit。Youhavehelpedmegreatly。"
　　"Youarebetternow，"shesaidsoftly。"It’svery，veryhardforyou，sofarfromhome，andfromallyourfriends。"
　　"Thereisnooneelse，"saidBarrysimply。"Wehavenoonebutjustourselves。"
　　Atthispointhisfatheropenedhiseyesbrightandverywide—
　　awake。
　　TheV。A。D。begantogatheruptheteathings。Barryputouthishandandtouchedherarm。
　　"Dad，thisisyournightnurse。Shewasverykindtomelastnight，andagainto—night。ThisisMissVincent。"
　　ThebrightnessoftheV。A。D。’ssmileoutshonehisown。
　　"I’mnotarealnurse，"shesaid。"I’monlyaV。A。D。，youknow。
　　Theyusemetowashthefloorsanddishes，andforallsortsofoddjobs。To—nighttheyareshorthanded，andhaveputmeonthisduty。"
　　Whileshewasspeaking，shecontinuedtosmile，asmileofradiantcheerandcourage。
　　Thewoundedmanlistenedgravelytoher，hiseyessearchingherface，hereyes，herverysoul，itseemedtoher。Inspiteofherexperienceandherself—control，shefeltherfaceflushingunderhissearchinggaze。
　　"Mydear，"hesaidatlength，"Iamgladtomeetyou。Youareagoodandbravegirl，Iknow。"Hiseyesfellupontheblackbanduponherarm。"Iseeyouarewearingthebadgeofheroism。Mydear，pardonme，youhavethesamelook——Barry，shehasyourdearmother’slook，notsobeautiful——youwillforgiveme，mydear——butthesamelook。Shethinksofothersandshehascouragetosuffer。
　　Mydear，Icannottakeyourhandsinmine，"——heglancedwithapatheticsmileathisbandagedarms，butwithaswiftmovementofindescribablegracethegirlstoopedandkissedhimontheforehead。
　　"Barry，"hesaid，turningtohisson，"thatwasafinecourtesy。I
　　countitanhonourtohaveknownyou，MissVincent。"
　　Hepausedamomentortwo，hissearchingeyesstilluponherface。
　　"Youwillbefriendmyboy，after——after——"
　　"Iwilltrymybest，sir，"saidthegirl，thecolourdeepeninginhercheeksthewhile。"Goodnight，sir，"shesaid。"IshallbenearathandifIamwanted。"
　　"Barry，"saidhisfather，afterthegirlhadgone，"thatisaverycharmingandaverysuperioryounglady，oneyouwillbegladtoknow。"
　　"Yes，dad，Iamsuresheis，"saidBarry，andthenhetoldhisfatheroftheeventsofthepreviousnight。
　　Forsomemomentsafterhehadfinishedhisfatherlaywithhiseyesshut，andquitestill，andBarry，thinkingheslept，satwatching，hiseyesintentuponthefacehelovedbestinalltheworld。
　　Buthisfatherwasnotasleep。
　　"Yes，Barry，"hesaid，"sheislikeyourdearmother，andnow，"headdedhurriedly，"IhopeyouwillnotthinkIamtakingaliberty——"
　　"Oh，dad，Iimploreyou！"saidBarry。
　　"Barry，Iwouldliketospeaktoyouaboutyourwork。"
　　Barryshookhisheadsadly。
　　"I’mnotmuchgood，dad，"hesaid，"butI’mnotgoingtoquit，"headdedquickly，notingashadowonhisfather’sface。
　　"Barry，I’mgoingtosaysomethingtoyouwhichIdohopewillnothurtyou。Iknowthecommonsoldierbetterthanyoudo，boy。OurCanadiansoldiersdonotliketoberebuked，criticisedorevenwatchedtooclosely。Forgivemethis，myboy。"
　　"Oh，dad，pleasetellmeallthatisinyourheart！"
　　"Thankyou，Barry。Theydon’tlikethechaplaintobeacensorovertheirwords。"
　　"Iloatheit，"saidBarrypassionately。
　　"Believeme，theyaregoodchapsintheirhearts。Theyswearandallthat，butthatismerelyahabitoramereexpressionofhighemotion。Yououghttohearthemasthey’goover。’Barry，letallthatpassandrememberthattheseboysaregivingtheirlives——
　　theirlives，Barry，forright，forconscience，andultimately，thoughitmaybeunconsciously，forGod。Barry，amanthatisgivinghislifeforGodmaysaywhathelikes。Don’tbetoohardonthem，butrecalltomind，Barry，thatwhentheygoupthelinetheyfeelterriblylonelyandterriblyafraid，andthatisatrulyawfulexperience。"
　　Hepausedamomentortwo，andthenloweredhisvoiceandcontinued：
　　"Barry，youwon’tbeashamedofme。Iwasterriblyafraid，myself。"
　　Barrychokedbackaconvulsivesob。
　　"You，dad，you！"Helaughedscornfully。
　　"Ididn’trun，Barry，thankGod！Buttheboys——myboys——theyareonlylads，manyofthem——lonelyandafraid——andtheymustgoon。
　　Theymustgoon。Oh，Barry，inthathourtheyneedsomeonetogowiththem。TheyneedGod。"
　　Hissonwaslisteningwithhisheartinhiseyes。Hewasgettinganewviewofthesoldierandofthesoldier’sneeds。
　　"Unhappily，"continuedhisfather，"Godisatbestashadowybeing，tomanyofthemastranger，tosomeaterror。Barry，"hesaid，"theyneedsomeonetotellthemthetruthaboutGod。It’snotfairtoGod，youknow。"Hereagainhisfatherpausedandthensaidveryhumbly："IthinkImaysay，Barry，IknowGodnow，asIdidnotbefore。Andyouhelpedme，boy，toknowhim。"
　　"Oh，dad，"criedBarry，passionately。"NotI！Idon’tknowHimatall！"
　　"Letmetellyouhowyouhelpedme，Barry。BeforeIwentupthelasttime，Iwanted——"
　　Hepausedabruptly，hisfaceworkingandhislipquivering。
　　"Forgiveme，myboy。I’malittleweak。"
　　Afewmomentsofsilenceandthenhecontinuedquietly：
　　"Iwantedyou，Barry。"
　　Theboy’shandswerewrithingunderhisknees，buthisfaceandeyeswerequitesteady。
　　"Iwasterriblylonely。Ithoughtofthatstrange，dearbondthatheldustogether，andthenlikeaflashoutoftheskycamethosegreatwords：’Likeasafatherpitiethhischildren，’andoh，boy，boy！ItcametomethenthatasIfeeltowardmyboyGodfeelstowardme。Barry，listen——"Hisvoicefelltoawhisper。"IamGod’sson，asyouaremine。Therewasnomorefear，andIwasnotnearlysolonely。Telltheboys——telltheboysthetruthaboutGod。"
　　Helayalongtimesilent，withhiseyesclosed，andasBarrywatchedhesawtwotearsfalldownthewhitecheeks。Itwastohimaterriblesight。Never，notevenathismother’sgrave，hadheseenhisfather’stears。Itwasmorethanhecouldendure。Heputhisfacedownbesidehisfather’sonthepillow。
　　"Dad，Iunderstand，"hewhispered。"IknownowwhatGodislike。
　　Heislikeyou，dad。Hegavehimselfforus，asyou，dad，havegivenyourselfalltheseyearsforme。"
　　Hewassobbing，butveryquietly。
　　"Forgiveme，dad；I’mnotcrying。I’mjustthinkingaboutGodandyou。Oh，dad，youarebothwonderful！Wonderful！"
　　"Barry，myboy，tellthem。Don’tworryyourselfaboutthem。JusttellthemaboutGod。Heisresponsibleforthem，notyou。"
　　"Oh，Iwill，dad；IpromiseyouIwill。I’vebeenallwrong，butI’lltellthem。I’lltellthem。"
　　"ThankGod，myboy，"saidhisfather，withadeepsigh。"NowI’mtired。Say’OurFather。’"
　　Togethertheywhisperedthosegreatestofwordsinhumanspeech，thosewordsthathaveboundheaventoearthinyearningandinhopeforthesetwothousandyears。
　　"Don’tmove，Barry，"whisperedhisfather。"Ilikeyouthere。"
　　Withtheirfacesthustogethertheyfellasleep。
　　Barrywasawakenedbyhisfather’svoice，clearandstrong。
　　"Areyouthere，Barry？"itsaid。
　　"Here，dad，righthere！"
　　"Goodboy。Goodboy。Youwon’tleaveme，Barry。Imeanyoudon’tneedtogo？"
　　"No，dad，I’llneverleaveyou。"
　　"Goodboy，"againmurmuredhisfathersoftly。"Alwaysagoodboy，always，always——"
　　Hewasbreathingheavily，longdeepbreaths。
　　"Liftmeup，Barry，"hesaid。
　　Barrysatonthebed，puthisarmaroundhisfather’sshoulders，andliftedhimup。
　　"That’sbetter——holdmecloser，Barry——Youwon’thurtme——Oh，it’sgood——tofeel——yourarms——strongarms——Barry。"
　　"Youmadethemstrong，dad，"saidBarry，inaclear，steadyvoice。
　　Thefathernestledhisheaduponhisson’sshoulder。
　　"Barry，"hesaidinthelowtoneofonegivingaconfidence，"don’teverforget——tothankGod——fortheseeighteenyears——together——
　　Yousavedme——fromdespair——eighteenyearsago——whenshewentaway——
　　youknow——andyouhavebeen——alltheworldtome——myson——"
　　"Andyoutome，dad，"saidhissoninthesamesteadytone。
　　"I’vetriedallmylife——tomakeyouknow——howIloveyou——butsomehowIcouldn’t——"
　　"ButIknew，dad，"saidBarry。"AllmylifeIhaveknown。"
　　"Really？"askedhisfather。"I——wonder——Idon’tthink——youquiteknow——Ah——myboy——myboy——Youdon’t——know——you——can’t。Barry，"
　　hesaid，"Ithink——I’mgoingout——I’mgoing——out——no，in——yourword——myboy——in——eh——Barry？"
　　"Yes，dad，"saidhisson。"Goingin。Theinnercircle，youknow。"
　　"The——inner——circle——"echoedhisfather。"Warmth——light——love——
　　Now——Ithink——I’llsleep——Goodnight——Barry——Oh——myboy，——you——
　　don’tquite——know——Kissme——Barry——"
　　Barrykissedhimonthelips。
　　"So——Good——night——"
　　Adeepbreathhetook；another——Barrywaitedforthenext，buttherewasnotanother。
　　Helaidhisfatherdownandlookedintohisquietface，touchedevennowwiththenoblestatelinessofdeath。Heputhisarmsabouttheunresponsiveform，andhisfacetothecheekstillwarm。
　　"Dad，oh，dad，"hewhispered。"Doyouknow——doyouknow——Oh，God，tellhimhowIlovehim。Tellhim！Tellhim！Inevercould。"
　　ThelittleV。A。D。camesoftlyandstoodlookingfromadistance。
　　Thencomingtothebedside，shelaidherhandupontheheadandthentheheartofthedeadman。Thenshedrewback，andbeckoningtoanorderly，theyplacedascreenaboutthecot。Shelethereyesrestforamomentortwouponthekneelingboy，thenwentsoftlyaway。
　　Deathwastoheranalltoofamiliarthing。Shehadoftenseenitunmoved，butto—night，asshewalkedaway，thebrowneyescouldnotholdtheirtears。
　　CHAPTERXII
　　AMANOFGOD
　　Barrywasstandingbesidehisfather’sgrave，inalittleplotintheBoulognecemeterysetapartforBritishofficers。Theyhad，onebyone，goneawayandlefthimuntil，alone，hestoodlookingdownonthesimplewoodencrossonwhichwererecordedthename，age，andunitofthesoldierwiththedateofhisdeath，andunderneaththesimplelegend，eloquentofheroicsacrifice，"Diedofwoundsreceivedinaction。"
　　Throughoutthesimple，beautifulburialservicehehadnotbeenacutelyconsciousofgrief。Evennowhewonderedthathecouldshednotears。RatherdidanexultantemotionfillhissoulashelookedarounduponthelittleBritishplot，withitsrowsofcrosses，andhewaschieflyconsciousofasolemn，tenderpridethathewaspermittedtosharethatgloriousofferingwhichhisEmpirewasmakingforthesavingoftheworld。But，inthismoment，ashestoodtherealoneclosetohisfather’sgrave，andsurroundedbythoseexamplesofhighcourageanddevotion，hebecameawareofamightychangewroughtinhimduringtheselastthreedays。Hehadexperiencedaveritableemancipationofsoul。
　　Hewasasifhehadbeenbornanew。
　　Theoldsenseoffailureinhiswork，thefeelingofunfitnessforit，andtheolddreadofit，hadbeenliftedoutofhissoul，andnotonlywasheanewman，buthefelthimselftobechargedwithanewmission，becausehehadanewmessageforhismen。Nolongerdidheconceivehimselfasamoralpolicemanorreligiouscensor，whosemaindutyitwastostandinjudgmentoverthefaultsandsinsofthemenofhisbattalion。Nomorewouldtheburdenofhismessagebeasterndenunciationofthesefaultsandsins。Standingthereto—day，hecouldonlywonderathisformerblindnessandstupidityandpride。
　　"WhoamI，"hesaidinbitterself—humiliation，"thatIshouldjudgemycomrades？HowlittleIknewmyself。"
　　"AmanofGod，"hissuperintendenthadsaidinhislastlettertohim。Yes，trulyamanofGod！AMANnotGod！AMANnottositinGod’splaceinjudgmentuponhisfellowsinners，buttoshowthemGod，theirFather。
　　Barrythoughtofthefrequentrebukeshehadadministeredtotheofficersandmenforwhatheconsideredtobetheirsins。Hegroanedaloud。
　　"Godwillforgiveme，Iknow，"hesaid。"Butwillthey？"
　　Hetriedtorecallwhattheburdenofhismessagetohisbattalionhadbeenduringthesepastmonths，buttohimtherecamenoclearanddistinctmemoryofaughtbutwarningsanddenunciations，withreferencetowhathejudgedtobefaultyintheirconduct。To—dayitseemedtohimbothsadandterrible。
　　HowhadhesofailedandsomisconceivedtheMaster’splainteaching？HemovedamongsinnersallHisdays，notwithdenunciationsinHisheartorvoice，butonlywithpityandlove。
　　"Benotanxious，"Hehadsaid。"Considerthebirdsoftheair。
　　NotoneofthemfallethtothegroundwithoutyourFather。Howmuchmorepreciousareyouthanthebirds。"
　　Whatamessageformengoinguptofacetheterrorsandperilsofthefrontline。"Benotanxious！"
　　"Iwasafraid，"hisfatherhadsaidtohim。Thattohimwasinconceivable。Thatthatgallantspiritshouldknowterrorseemedtohimimpossible。Yetevenhehadsaid，"Iwasafraid。"Andfortheloneliness，whatamessagehenowhad。Intheirlonelinessmencriedoutforthepresenceofafriend，andtheMasterhadsaid：
　　"Whenyepray，praytoyourFather。YourFatherknoweth。Whenyepray，say，’OurFather’！"Andhehadmissedallthis。Whatamesshehadmadeofhiswork！HowsadlymisreadhisMaster’steachingandmisinterpretedhisMaster’sspirit！
　　Barrylookeddownuponthegraveathisfeet。
　　"Butyouknew，dad，youknew！"hewhispered。
　　Forthefirsttimesincehehadbecomeachaplain，hethoughtofhisworkwithgratitudeandeagerness。Helongedtoseehismenagain。Hehadsomethingtotellthem。Itwasthis：thatGodtothemwasliketheirfathers，theirmothers，theirbrothers，theirfriends；onlyinfinitelymoreloving，andwithouttheirfaults。
　　Withhisheadhighandhisfeetlightupontheearth，hereturnedtotheR。A。M。C。Hospital，wherehefoundHarryHobbs，withhishandbagandaletterfromhisO。C。
　　"Takeafewdaysoff，"saidtheO。C。"Weallsympathisewithyou。
　　Wemissyouandshallbegladtoseeyou，buttakeafewdaysnowforyourself。"
　　Barrywasgreatlytouched，buthehadonlyonedesirenow，andthatwastoreturntohisunit。HisbatmanbroughthimalsoanorderfromtheAssistantDirectorofChaplainServicebiddinghimreportattheearliestmoment。
　　AtHeadquartershelearnedthattheA。D。C。S。hadbeeninBoulogne，buthadgonetoEtaples，somethirtyorfortymilesdistant，tovisitthelargehospitalsthere。Hedeterminedthatto—morrowhewouldgotoEtaplesandreport，afterwhichhewouldproceedtohisbattalion。
　　Thatevening，hevisitedthemeninthehospital，cominguponmanyCanadianswhosejoyinseeingachaplainfromtheirowncountrytouchedBarrytotheheart。Hetooktheirmessageswhichhepromisedtotransmittotheirfolksathome，andleftwiththemsomethingofthesereneandexultantpeacethatfilledhisownsoul。
　　FromEwenInnesandothersoftheWapitidraft，helearnedsomethingofhisfather’sworkandplaceintheirbattalion。
　　Soldiersarenoteloquentinspeech，butmostlyinsilence。Theirwordshaltedwhentheycametospeakoftheirsergeantmajor’ssoldierlyqualities，——forhisfatherhadbecomethesergeantmajorofthebattalion——hispatience，hisskill，hiscourage。
　　"Heknewhisjob，sir，"saidoneofthem。"Hewasalwaysontoit。"
　　"Itwashiscareofhismenthatwethoughtmostof，"saidEwen，whocontinuedtorelateincidentsthathadcomeunderhisownobservationofthischaracteristic，tearsthewhileflowingdownhischeeks。
　　"Heneverthoughtofhimself，sir。Itwasourcomfortfirst。Hewasfarmorethanoursergeantmajor。Hewatcheduslikeafather；
　　that’swhathedid。"
　　AsBarrylistenedtothesoldierstellingofhisfatherinbrokenwords，andwithflowingtears，healmostwonderedatthemfortheirtearsandwonderedathimselfthathehadnone。Tearsseemedtobesomuchoutofplaceintellingsuchataleasthat。
　　ThetrainforEtaplesleavingatanunearthlyhourinthemorning，BarrywenttotakefarewelloftheV。A。D。thenightbefore。
　　"Thatisanawfullyearlyhour，"shesaid，"and，oh，suchawretchedtrain。"Therewasinhervoiceanalmostmaternalsolicitudeforhiscomfort。
　　"That’snothing，"saidBarry。"WhenIseeyouhereatyourunendingwork，itmakesmefeelmoreandmorelikeaslacker。"
　　"Waitformehereamoment，"shesaid，andhurriedawaytoreturnshortlyinsuchaglowofexcitementasevenherwontedcalmandself—restraintcouldnotquitehide。