For a moment she did not recognise me, but when she did she just took three steps forward and sprang at me, with her two arms round my neck.
"Oh, my dear old Jock," she cried, "how fine you look in a red coat!" "Yes, I am a soldier now, Edie," said I, very stiffly; for as I looked at her pretty face, I seemed to see behind it that other face which had looked up to the morning sky on the Belgium battle-field.
"Fancy that!" she cried.

"What are you, then, Jock?
A general?
A captain ?" "No, I am a private." "What! Not one of the common people who carry guns ?" "Yes, I carry a gun." "Oh, that is not nearly so interesting," said she.

And she went back to the sofa from which she had risen.

It was a wonderful room, all silk and velvet and shiny things, and I felt inclined to go back to give my boots another rub.

As Edie sat down again, I saw that she was all in black, and so I knew that she had heard of de Lissac's death.
"I am glad to see that you know all," said I, for I am a clumsy hand at breaking things.