There are so many of these war marriages now."

Pierson turned away.

"I think they're dreadful. What do they mean--Just a momentary
gratification of passion. They might just as well not be."

"They mean pensions, as a rule," said Thirza calmly.

"Thirza, that is cynical; besides, it doesn't affect this case. I can't
bear to think of my little Nollie giving herself for a moment which may
come to nothing, or may turn out the beginning of an unhappy marriage.
Who is this boy--what is he? I know nothing of him. How can I give her
to him--it's impossible! If they had been engaged some time and I knew
something of him--yes, perhaps; even at her age. But this hasty
passionateness--it isn't right, it isn't decent. I don't understand, I
really don't--how a child like that can want it. The fact is, she
doesn't know what she's asking, poor little Nollie. She can't know the
nature of marriage, and she can't realise its sacredness. If only her
mother were here! Talk to her, Thirza; you can say things that I can't!"

Thirza looked after the retreating figure. In spite of his cloth,
perhaps a little because of it, he seemed to her like a child who had
come to show her his sore finger. And, having finished the arrangement
of her flowers, she went out to find her niece. She had not far to go;
for Noel was standing in the hall, quite evidently lying in wait. They
went out together to the avenue.

The girl began at once:

"It isn't any use talking to me, Auntie; Cyril is going to get a
license."

"Oh! So you've made up your minds?"

"Quite."

"Do you think that's fair by me, Nollie? Should I have asked him here if
I'd thought this was going to happen?"

Noel only smiled.

"Have you the least idea what marriage means?"

Noel nodded.

"Really?"

"Of course. Gratian is married. Besides, at school--"

"Your father is dead against it. This is a sad thing for him. He's a
perfect saint, and you oughtn't to hurt him. Can't you wait, at least
till Cyril's next leave?"

"He might never have one, you see."

The heart of her whose boys were out there too, and might also never have
another leave; could not but be responsive to those words. She looked at
her niece, and a dim appreciation of this revolt of life menaced by
death, of youth threatened with extinction, stirred in her. Noel's teeth
were clenched, her lips drawn back, and she was staring in front of her.

"Daddy oughtn't to mind. Old people