'There will be a good deal of fighting. It has seemed foolish to dwell on the dangers that await me, but I do realise that they are greater than I have ever faced before. This time it is win or die.'
'The dangers can be no greater than those his ancestors have taken cheerfully.'
'He may be wounded or killed.'
Lucy hesitated for an instant. The words she uttered came from unmoving lips.
'If he dies a brave man's death I can ask for nothing more.'
Alec smiled at her infinite courage. He was immensely proud of her.
'Then tell him that I shall be glad to take him.'
'May I call him now?'
Alec nodded. She rang the bell and told the servant who came that she wished to see her brother. George came in. The strain of the last fortnight, the horrible shock of his father's conviction, had told on him far more than on Lucy. He looked worn and ill. He was broken down with shame. The corners of his mouth drooped querulously, and his handsome face bore an expression of utter misery. Alec looked at him steadily. He felt infinite pity for his youth, and there was a charm of manner about him, a way of appealing for sympathy, which touched the strong man. He wondered what character the boy had. His heart went out to him, and he loved him already because he was Lucy's brother.
'George, Mr. MacKenzie has offered to take you with him to Africa,' she said eagerly. 'Will you go?'
'I'll go anywhere so long as I can get out of this beastly country,' he answered wearily. 'I feel people are looking at me in the street when I go out, and they're saying to one another: there's the son of that swindling rotter who was sentenced to seven years.'
He wiped the palms of his hands with his handkerchief.
'I don't mind what I do. I can't go back to Oxford; no one would speak to me. There's nothing I can do in England at all. I wish to God I were dead.'
'George, don't say that.'
'It's all very well for you. You're a girl, and it doesn't matter. Do you suppose anyone would trust me with sixpence now? Oh, how could he? How could he?'
'You must try and forget it, George,' said Lucy, gently.
The boy pulled himself together and gave Alec a charming smile.
'It's awfully ripping of you to take pity on me.'
'I want you to know before you decide that you'll have to rough it all the time. It'll be hard and dangerous work.'
'Well, as far as I'm concerned it's Hobson's choice, isn't it?' he answered, bitterly.
Alec held out his hand, with one of his rare, quiet smiles.
'I hope we shall pull well together and be good friends.'
'And when you come back, George, everything will be over. I wish I were a man so that I might go with you. I wish I had your chance. You've got everything before you, George. I think no man has ever had such an opportunity. All our hope is in you. I want to be proud of you. All my self-respect depends on you. I want you to distinguish yourself, so that I may feel once more honest and strong and clean.'
Her voice was trembling with a deep emotion, and George, quick to respond, flushed.
'I am a selfish beast,' he cried. 'I've been thinking of myself all the time. I've never given a thought to you.'
'I don't want you to: I only want you to be brave and honest and steadfast.'
The tears came to his eyes, and he put his arms around her neck. He nestled against her heart as a child might have done.
'It'll be awfully hard to leave you, Lucy.'
'It'll be harder for me, dear, because you will be doing great and heroic things, while I shall be able only to wait and watch. But I want you to go.' Her voice broke, and she spoke almost in a whisper. 'And don't forget that you're going for my sake as well as for your own. If you did anything wrong or disgraceful it would break my heart.'
'I swear to you that you'll never be ashamed of me, Lucy,' he said.
She kissed him and smiled. Alec had watched them silently. His heart was very full.
'But we mustn't be silly and sentimental, or Mr. MacKenzie will think us a pair of fools.' She looked at him gaily. 'We're both very grateful to you.'
'I'm afraid I'm starting almost at once,' he said. 'George must be ready in a week.'
'George can be ready in twenty-four hours if need be,' she answered.
The boy walked towards the window and lit a cigarette. He wanted to steady his nerves.
'I'm afraid I shall be able to see little of you during the next few days,' said Alec. 'I have a great deal to do, and I must run up to Lancashire for the week-end.'
'I'm sorry.'
'Won't you change your mind?'
She shook her head.
