rossing
the ocean to visit us, while his friends are fighting in France and
Belgium, to save the world. I know my boy well enough to be sure he's
too strong to change much just because he is what some folks call
'dead'; and he'd like us to be near. Paris won't do for me. No city
would. I'd be too restless there. Do, _do_ let's go and live till the
end of the war in Jim's chateau! That's what he's wanting. I feel it
every minute."

I was in the room when she made this appeal to her husband, and I longed
to put into their hearts the thought Jack Curtis had put into mine. But,
of course, I dared not. It would have been cruel. Jack Curtis had
nothing to go upon except his impression--the same impression I myself
have at times, of Jim's vital presence in the midst of life. I have it
often, though never quite so strongly as that night in Paris, when he
would not let me kill myself.

It wasn't difficult to make Father Beckett consent to the new plan. He
told me afterward that his own great wish was to find Jim's grave, when
the end of the war would make search possible. Beckett interests were
being safeguarded in America. They would not suffer much from his
absence. Besides, business no longer seemed vitally important to him as
of old. Money mattered little now that Jim was gone.

He would have abandoned his visit to the British front, since Mother
Beckett could not have the glimpse half promised by the authorities. But
she would not let him give it up. "Molly" would take good care of her.
When she could move, we would all go to Amiens. There she and I could be
safely left for a few days, while Brian and Father Beckett were at the
front. As for Julian O'Farrell and Dierdre, at first it appeared as if
the little lady had left them out of her calculations. But I might have
known--knowing her--that she wouldn't do that for long.

She believed implicitly in their Red Cross mission, which, ever since
the little car joined the big one, has been constantly aided with
Beckett money and Beckett influence. Julian would, she supposed, wish to
"carry on his good work," when our trip came to an end. But as he had no
permission for the British front (he hadn't cared to make himself
conspicuous to the British authorities by asking for it!) he and Dierdre
might like to keep us two women company at Amiens. By the time we wanted
to leave, Mother Beckett confidently expected "Jim's chateau" to be
ready for occupation, and Dierdre must visit