e here, Sara?" he asked.

"I used your ring," she answered, showing it to him. "Father is in the
next room."

"Your father has been very useful," he said. "He has been out with the
engineer all day."

She laughed.

"He is amusing himself. But, Ughtred, I came to talk to you for a
moment. They tell me that you are going back to the front directly."

"I must be there at daybreak," he answered. "Until then we have
granted them an armistice--to bury their dead."

She nodded.

"I hear all about it. I was in the field-hospital all day, and the
wounded were brought in shouting with joy. It was a great fight,
Ughtred."

An answering gleam flashed in his eyes.

"You should have been a soldier's daughter, Sara."

Her face was suddenly grave. She was standing by his side with her
hands loosely clasped behind her, her eyes upturned to his.

"Ughtred," she said, "I have come here to say something to you. There
have been rumours of a quarrel between you and the Reists. Is that
true?"

"There is something of the sort," he admitted.

"They say that the Duke of Reist has thrown up his command."

"Yes."

"Is it true, Ughtred, that you went through some sort of a betrothal
ceremony with the Countess of Reist?"

He laughed heartily. Then he told her the story. She listened with
grave face.

"You were scarcely to blame," she said, when he had finished. "But,
Ughtred, I have begun to understand what should have been plain to me
from the first--what you too should have thought of, perhaps. Our
engagement would never be welcomed by your people. They love the old
families and the old names. It would make you unpopular, and I believe
it is at the bottom of your disagreement with the Reists. You must
forget what you said, dear. It is best, indeed."

He turned upon her for the moment almost fiercely. He was overwrought.

"You, too!" he exclaimed. "My God, how lonely people can leave a King
when the evil times come."

He saw her look of pain, and the tears fill her eyes. He turned
suddenly and threw his arms about her.

"You love me, Sara. You do not want to take that back?"

"You know that I do not," she answered.

"Then put these things away from you till these troubles are past. At
least let me have you to think of and fight for. Afterwards we will
speak of them again."

She assented gladly.

"Only I want you to know, Ughtred," she said, "that I will never
become your wife if it is to lessen your hold upon your