We arranged that each of us should discuss with his commanding officer the question of asking for special leave.

Mine advised me to go, and I have no earthly doubt that his would have said, or did say, the same; but Willie Redmond never brought himself to leave his men.

Next month, however, he was invalided back, very seriously ill.
But in our talk that day, when we discussed the possibility of our having some special influence, he said this: "Don't imagine that what you and I have done is going to make us popular with our people.

On the contrary, we shall both be sent to the right about at the first General Election." I think he was wrong, at least to this extent, that any man who served would not have lessened his chance by doing so.

When the tide flowed strongest against us, in three provinces one Nationalist only kept his seat--John Redmond's son, Major William Archer Redmond.
II Already the tide had begun to turn in Ireland.