barrack lights. Through the windows
the successful ones could see among the bunks the bowed and silent
figures, must have known how sacrilegious it was to project their
happiness into this place which had all at once become a sepulchre of
dead sacrifices.

"I hope," George muttered to his friends, "I'll never have to see quite
so much suffering on a battlefield."

VI

It wasn't pleasant to face Blodgett, but it had to be done, for all
three of the partners had determined out of necessity to spend the
greater portion of their leaves at the office. George slipped in alone
the morning he got back to New York. Blodgett looked up as if he had
been struck, taking in each detail of the uniform and its insignia,
symbols of success. The face seemed a little less round, infinitely less
contented. Sitting back there in his office he had an air of having
sought a corner. If Sylvia didn't, he clearly appreciated the shame of
the situation. George took the pudgy hand and pressed it, but he
couldn't say anything and Blodgett seemed to understand and be grateful.
He failed, however, to hide his envy of the uniform.

"I'd give my money and something besides," he said, "to be able to climb
into that."

"You're lucky you can't," George answered, half meaning it.

As a substitute Blodgett spoke of some dollar-a-year work in Washington.

"But don't worry, George. I'll see everything here is looked after."

George was glad Blodgett had so much to take care of, for it was clear
that the more work he had the better off he would be. In Blodgett's
presence he tried not to think of Sylvia and his own intentions. He
wrote her, for the first time, boldly asking, since he couldn't suggest
such a visit to Lambert, if he might see her at Oakmont. She didn't keep
him in suspense. He smiled as he read her brief reply, it had been so
obviously dictated by the Sylvia who was going to be good to soldiers no
matter how dreadful the cost.

"I thought I made you understand that what you proposed at
Plattsburgh can never become less preposterous; my response
less determined. So of course it wouldn't do for you to come.
When we see each other, as we're bound to do, before you sail,
I shall try to forget the absolute lack of any even merely
friendly ground between us. It would hurt Lambert----"

"Damn Lambert!" he muttered.

But he didn't tear her letter up. He put it in the pocket of his blouse.
He continued to car