Am I dreaming--or am I awake?
Does that blessed boy realize what he is saying?
Does he mean that he is going to enlist as a soldier?
You do not mean to tell me that they want children like him! It is an outrage.
Surely you and the doctor will not permit it." "We can't stop him," said Mrs.Blythe, chokingly.

"Oh, Gilbert!" Dr.Blythe came up behind his wife and took her hand gently, looking down into the sweet grey eyes that he had only once before seen filled with such imploring anguish as now.

They both thought of that other time--the day years ago in the House of Dreams when little Joyce had died.
"Would you have him stay, Anne--when the others are going--when he thinks it his duty--would you have him so selfish and small-souled ?" "No--no! But--oh--our first-born son--he's only a lad--Gilbert--I'll try to be brave after a while--just now I can't.

It's all come so suddenly.

Give me time." The doctor and his wife went out of the room.