CHAPTER XXXIV

THE STATION Next day Ernie was to join up. After dinner he kissed Susie and Jenny, gave them each a penny, and despatched them to play. Hand in hand they stamped away to Motcombe Garden with clacking heels, roguish backward glances and merry tongues. Then he asked Ruth to go into the backyard. Left alone with Alice he lifted her on to the kitchen-table, took her hands in his, and looked gravely into her eyes. "I trust you to look after mother and the little ones when I'm gone, Lal," he said. The little maid, swif…