The Tin Soldier

It was a hot argument. Jean beat her little hands upon the tab

you think

is no reason why we s

a tur

turkey on Thanksgiving-not even Hoover." H

ences, Hilda. And a t

much of lit

thing to sacrifi

sacrifice something more than things to eat. I'd go over there and nurse the wounded. I could be of real s

rue, but she fired one more shot. "Then

I have been thinking about it

er in surprise. "I didn't

mean. I should go because there was somet

the room. Jean s

ed. "She got you

u really think she i

news

d ne

e her." He sat for a moment in silence, then stood up. "I shouldn't ho

ing Hilda's

came over and kissed her. "Will

es-how

s. After I see

y and waiting for him in her squirr

eyed her. "Such

like me,

uestion-I

een shutting away the chauffeur, Je

ious, Daddy. I came

e because you want

d. But for

ddy-you should see the breadbox. And the other day she ordered a steak for dinner, one of those big thick ones-and it was Tuesday, and I happened to go

hate her hands-and she said that of course if I was going to make a fuss about it she wouldn't have the steak, but that it was simply a thing she couldn't understand. The steak was

there, but I changed my mind and came home. Hilda was at the table alone, and, Daddy, sh

el

ood! She made me think of those dreadful crea

de

seen her, with great chu

a healthy

e you def

ear c

lways, against me-an

raised her eyes to find him regarding her q

spoilin

'll stop at Small's. Shall it be r

se. The question of Hilda was not settled, but she yielded as many an older woman has yielded-to the swe

colate for fifteen years. Administrations might come and administrations go, but these pleasant clerks had been cup-bearers to them

her, the sunshine shining on her through the wide wi

a gray squirrel coat and bunch of violets with her copper-color

ere cold above her chocolate. Derry bought his check, went to a little table on

ching him through the window. "I wond

ad he d

ear,

und out

t th

with tense earnestne

old yo

dy's say

dy is de

you mea

t said. Everybod

o you

ich he is not permitted to tell. I am

you could

as given in

Daddy, did

es

isn't a

N

new

ou thought he

e known better. He lo

ll him exactly

ldn't

followed him in silence to his car. They sp

me. "Isn't it a wo

wn at her. "

bestowed upon him her raptures. "Wouldn't it be dreadful if we

came out of his inner office. Hilda, in her white nurse's costume, was busy with the

thing to do. But I was hungry, and I hate fi

e unbearable for Hilda to go hungry, to

"what did you mean when

been thinki

his cheeks. "Yes, but

ws. Why don't you

Jean to t

ought to go. Men are seeing things over there

ountry n

I am not making any grand stand plays. I should go for a

ity. Jean's words of the afternoo

e aside ruthlessly the curtain of self-deception, revealing her moti

our practice is necessarily limited. I should get a wider view of things. So would

to think I was going m

hy not that as w

ldering sense

me feel rather big and fine;

s you are, a man. She thin

be a hero to one's daughter. Perhaps some day I

o far. "You mustn't take the

t the receiver to her ear. "It is General Drake's man;

have to go. He is in r

"I'll have a cup of coffee ready for you when you get back," she s

lling. "You'd better have your oversh

hall light, smiling. "Have you forgiv

? Of course. You take suc

bed-side lamp which flung a ring of gold beyond Jean's blotter to the edge of the lace spread. For Jean was writing in bed. All day her mind had been revolving around this letter, but she had had no time to write. She had spent the afternoon in the Toy Shop with Emily, and i

tor McKenzie was intensely Scotch, and he was entitled to a crest, but he was also intensely American, and would have none of it. He h

eemed very simple. Just one pag

Mr.

at four. It is very important-to me at least. Perhaps when you he

incerel

MCKE

in a panic tore it open for a re-reading. She was oppressed by doubts. Did nice girls ask men to come

ad slighted him, she had listened while others slandered-why should she care what other women h

e, a new stamp, the n

elt that under no circumstance could

e slipped out of bed, tucked her toes into a pair of sandals, threw a furry motor coat around her, and sped silently down th

a rush for it, dropped in the precious letter,

down among her pillows, she had a great sense of ad

irst real excursion into the land of ro

lver Persian, Polly Ann, lay

e doesn't come, I shall hate

surveyed h

e me right if he d

e rang. It rang, too, in Hilda's room. Hilda's door opened and shut.

es

ill have to be taken off the case. I shall have to go in her place. There is a great shortage at the hospital. W

, Hilda. Nothing can happe

feeling of detachment. She would be alone

conscious as she made her petitions of any ulterior motive. Yet a placated Providence would, she felt sure,