The Little Warrior - Penn State University

affably, attaching himself to the other’s arm, “what …?”
He broke off, for Derek, freeing his arm with a
wrench, turned and walked rapidly away. Derek had
no desire to go over the whole thing again with Uncle
Chris. He wanted to be alone, to build up, painfully
and laboriously, the ruins of his self-esteem. The pride
of the Underhills had had a bad evening.
Uncle Chris turned to Freddie.
“What is the matter?” he asked blankly.
“I’ll tell you what’s the jolly old matter!” cried Freddie.
“The blighter isn’t going to marry poor Jill after all!
He’s changed his rotten mind! It’s off!”
“Off?”
“Absolutely off!”
“Absolutely off?”
“Napoo!” said Freddie. “He’s afraid of what will happen
to his blasted career if he marries a girl who’s been
in the chorus.”
“But, my dear boy!” Uncle Chris blinked. “But, my dear
boy! This is ridiculous … Surely, if I were to speak a
word …”
332
“You can if you like. I wouldn’t speak to the cootie
again if you paid me! But it won’t do any good, so
what’s the use?”
Slowly Uncle Chris adjusted his mind to the disaster.
“Then you mean …?”
“It’s off!” said Freddie.
For a moment Uncle Chris stood motionless. Then, with
a sudden jerk, he seemed to stiffen his backbone. His
face was bleak, but he pulled at his mustache jauntily.
“Morituri te salutant!” he said. “Good-bye, Freddie,
my boy.”
He turned away, gallant and upright, the old soldier.
“Where are you going?” asked Freddie.
“Over the top!” said Uncle Chris.
“What do you mean?”
“I am going,” said Uncle Chris steadily, “to find Mrs
Peagrim!”
“Good God!” cried Freddie. He followed him, protesting
weakly, but the other gave no sign that he had
heard. Freddie saw him disappear into the stage-box,
and, turning, found Jill at his elbow.