After all, it had not been in vain, his quixotic lingering in Cape Town for a weary month after receiving his discharge.Weldon and he had been good friends through thick and thin; it would have been beastly to leave him.And now, after all these useless weeks, he could at least do something to lighten the convalescence.Moreover, Carew's pocket held three letters, received that very noon; one of grudging approval from his son-sick mother, one of chaotic, but heartfelt thanks from Mrs.Weldon, and the third one an affirmative answer to a telegram he had sent to Alice Mellen, only the night before.He went into Weldon's room, looking, as he felt, the embodiment of happiness and health.
He hailed Weldon from the threshold.Tidings like his could wait during no interchange of mere conventional greetings.Weldon heard him to the end, congratulated him, demanded the repetition of all the details.Then, when Carew's excitement had quite spent itself, Weldon drew a letter from underneath his pillow.
"It came, this morning," he added laconically.
Carew seized the letter and ran his eye down the page.Then his face lighted.
"Nunc dimittis!" he said piously."It's sure to be yours! Have you told Miss Dent?""I've not seen Miss Dent."
Carew's face fell.
"Not yet? But you will.And then you will tell her?"Weldon's lips straightened into a thin line.He shook his head.
"But she ought to know."
"Why?"
"It is her right."
"Why?" Weldon asked again.
"Because--it is.It might make some difference in--"Weldon stopped him abruptly.
"It could make no difference, Carew.In facing the main question, such things as that don't count.Even if they did, though," he rose on his elbow and faced his friend steadily; "even if they did, Iwould never consent to try to bribe a girl into loving me, by telling her I had won the V.C.It will be time enough for Miss Dent to hear of it, when it is given.""But you will be in England then," Carew objected practically.
Weldon lay down again and drew the sheet upward till its shadow lay across his lips.
"What matter?" he answered slowly."And, besides, Miss Dent isn't the girl to be won in any such way as that.Hers is a love to be given, not bought."Half an hour later, Carew met Ethel on the stairs.As he halted to speak to her, he was shocked at the look in her face.The lips were smiling; but the eyes were the eyes of a hunted animal.
"So long since we have met!" he said, as he took her hand."And so much has happened.""Yes.I have been hoping to congratulate you," she answered.
"It was a stunning letter you wrote me," he said boyishly."Isuppose we are cousins now."
Then there came a little pause.Before either of them quite realized it, the pause had lengthened until it was hard to break.
"I have been up to see the invalid," he blurted out at last.
"How is he?" the girl inquired courteously.
"Better." Then a sudden note of resentment crept into Carew's honest voice."He is counting the days now before he can be moved.He says your mother has been wonderfully good to him."The girl stood aside to let Carew pass her by.
"She is good to everybody," she assented quietly."I hope Mr.Weldon won't think of going away until he can be moved with perfect safety.
It is really no trouble to have him here, and the nurse is very capable."And Carew bowed in agreement.Once outside the door, however, he freed his mind, tersely and with vigor.
"Damn the nurse!" he said to the oak tree, as he passed it.
