He could not bend his thoughts to the work which was at his hand.

The sapphire waters of the South had quite lost their sparkle and enchantment.

Here, here, was the place of life! The exhilaration of his task, its importance, the glow of thankfulness when some real advantage was won, a plot foiled, a scheme carried to success--these matters were all banished from his mind.

Even the war-risk of it was forgotten.

He thought with envy of the men in trenches.