elf, in that
the Dean was called away on business and the cousins were left alone
together over their wine. Said Doggie:

"Do you remember the last time we sat at this table?"

"Perfectly," replied Oliver, holding up a glass of the old Deanery
port to the light. "You were horrified at my attempting to clean out
my pipe with a dessert knife."

Doggie laughed. "After all, it was a filthy thing to do."

"I quite agree with you. Since then I've learned manners."

"You also made me squirm at the idea of scooping out Boches' insides
with bayonets."

"And you've learned not to squirm, so we're quits."

"You thought me a rotten ass in those days, didn't you?"

Oliver looked at him squarely.

"I don't think it would hurt you now if I said that I did." He
laughed, stretched himself on his chair, thrusting both hands into his
trouser pockets. "In many ways, it's a jolly good old war, you
know--for those that pull through. It has taught us both a lot,
Marmaduke."

Doggie wrinkled his forehead in his half-humorous way.

"I wish it would teach people not to call me by that silly name."

"I have always abominated it, as you may have observed," said Oliver.
"But in our present polite relations, old chap, what else is there?"

"You ought to know----"

Oliver stared at him. "You don't mean----?"

"Yes, I do."

"But you used to loathe it and I went on calling you 'Doggie' because
I knew you loathed it. I never dreamed of using it now."

"I can't help it," replied Doggie. "The name got into the army and has
stuck to me right through, and now those I love and trust most in the
world, and who love and trust me, call me 'Doggie,' and I don't seem
to be able to answer to any other name. So, although I'm only a Tommy
and you're a devil of a swell of a second-in-command, yet if you want
to be friendly--well----"

Oliver leaned forward quickly. "Of course I want to be friends,
Doggie, old chap. As for major and private--when you pass me in the
street you've dam well got to salute me, and that's all there is to
it--but otherwise it's all rot. And now we've got to the
heart-to-heart stage, don't you think you're a bit of a fool?"

"I know it," said Doggie cheerfully. "The army has drummed that into
me, at any rate."

"I mean in staying in the ranks. Why don't you apply for the Cadet
Corps and so get through to a commission again?"

Doggie's brow grew dark. "I had all that out with Peggy long ago--when
things were perhaps