下载辰思小说免费APP
“Comehere，Papa！“criedPatricia。“Letuswaithere。Thereissomethingcomingupthestreet。“
“Butwhatisit？“askedDr。Templeton。“Doesanybodyknow？“
“Iguessitisastrikers’parade，sir。Iheardthattheyweretoorganiseamarch-outto-night。Itisratheraridiculousthing。“
Throughthedeepeningtwilighttheycouldseeattheheadofthecolumnandimmediatelybeforetheband，adoubleplatoonofyounggirlsdressedinwhite，underthecommandofanofficerdistinguishedfromtheothersbyherredsash，allmarchingwithabeautifulprecisiontothetapofthedrum。Astheheadofthecolumndrewopposite，PatriciatouchedVic’sarm。
“Vic！“shecried。“Look！Lookatthatgirl！ItisAnnette！“
“Myaunt！Soitis！“criedVic。“Jove！Whatapictureshemakes！
Whataswing！“
Behindthatswingingcompanyofgirlscametheband，marchingtothetappingofthedrumonly。Thenafteraspacecameafigure，pathetic，arresting，moving——awoman，obviouslyaworkman’swife，ofmiddleage，grey，workworn，andcarryingababeofafewmonthsinherarms，marchedalone。Plainlydressed，hergreyheadbare，shewalkedproudlyerectbutwithevidentsignsofweariness。Theappearanceofthatlone，weary，grey-hairedwomanandherhelplessbabestruckhardupontheheartwithitspoignantappeal，chokingmen’sthroatsandbringinghottearstowomen’seyes。Followingthatlonelyfigurecameonewhowasapparentlytheofficerincommandofthecolumn。Ashecameoppositethegate，hiseyefelluponthegroupthere。Swiftlyheturnedabout，and，likeatrumpet，hisvoicerangoutincommand:
“Ba-t-t-a-a-lion，halt！！R-r-r-i-g-h-tturn！“
Immediatelythewholecolumncametoahaltandfacedtowardthesideofthestreetwherestoodthegroupwithintheshadowofthegate。
“IamgoingtogetAnnette，“saidPatriciatoherfather，andshedartedoff，returningalmostimmediatelywiththeleaderofthegirls’squad。
“Whatdoesthismean，Annette？Whatareyoudoing？Itisagreatlark！“criedPatricia。
“Well，itisnotexactlyalark，“answeredAnnette，withaslightlaugh。“Yousee，wegirlswanttohelpouttheboys。Wearestrikers，too，youknow。Theyaskedustotakepartintheparade，andhereweare。Butit’sgotawaypastbeingalark，“shecontinued，hervoiceandfacegrowingstern。“Thereisalotofsufferingamongtheworkers。Iknowallmymoneyhasgone，“sheadded，afteramoment，withagaylaugh。
Meantime，theofficercommandingthecolumnhadspokenafewwordstotheleaderoftheband，andinresponse，tothesurpriseanddismayofthevenerableDoctor，thebandstruckupthatrollickingairassociatedwiththetime-honouredchorus，“ForHe’saJollyGoodFellow。“Thenallstoodsilent，gazingattheDoctor，who，muchembarrassed，couldonlygazebackinreturn。
“Papa，dear，“saidAdrien，whowithHughMaynardhadjoinedthematthegate，“youwillhavetospeaktothem。“
“Speaktothem，mydear？WhatintheworldcouldIsay？Ihavenothingtosaytothem。“
“Oh，butyoumust，Papa！Justthankthem。“
“Andtellthemyouareallforthem，Daddy！“addedPatriciaimpulsively。
ThentheoldDoctor，buttoninghiscoattightlyabouthimanddrawinghimselferect，said:
“Rupert，pleaserunyourcarouttotheroad。Thankyou。“
Mountingthecar，hestoodwaitingquietlytillthecheeringhaddieddownintosilence，hisbeautiful，noble，saintlyfacelitwiththefaintglowthatstillcamefromthewesternskybutmorewiththeinnerlightthatshinesfromasoulfilledwithhighfaithinGodandcompassionforman。
“Gentlemen——“hebegan。
“Ladies，too，Papa，“saidPatriciainaclearundertone。
“Ah！“correctedtheDoctor。“LadiesandGentlemen:“whilealaughrandowntheline。“Onegenerallybeginsaspeechwiththewords’Iamgladtoseeyouhere。’ThesewordsIcannotsaythisevening。Iregretmoredeeplythanyoucanunderstandtheoccasionofyourbeinghereatall。AndinthisregretIknowthatyouallshare。ButIamgladthatIcansayfrommyheartthatIfeelhonouredbyanddeeplymovedbythecomplimentyouhavejustpaidmethroughyour
