I'm sorry for mother, but look at other men's mothers! They're calling for more and more troops every week! I knew everybody would have to go, and I'm mighty fortunate to get into father's regiment--And O Ailsa! It is a fine regiment! We're drilling every minute, and now that we've got our uniforms it won't be long before our orders come----" "Stephen--does your mother----" "Mother knows I can't help it.

I _do_ love her; she knows that perfectly well.

But men have got to settle this thing----" "Two hundred thousand are getting ready to settle it! Are there hot enough without you ?--your mother's only son----" "Suppose everybody thought that way, where would our army be ?" "But there are hundreds of regiments forming here--getting ready, drilling, leaving on boats and trains every day----" "And every regiment is composed of men exactly like me! They go because the Nation's business is everybody's business.

And the Nation's business comes first.

There's no use talking to me, Ailsa.