He was straighter, more
compact, than before, however, and his uniform at least did not have the
truly abominable cut of the private.
"What do you think of war as war?" she asked.
"Sherman for me. Not that I didn't enjoy sticking Germans with the best of
'em when my blood was up. But the rest of it--God Almighty!"
They stopped before a solid double door in a high wall. "Will you come and
take tea with me this afternoon? I am staying here for a few days. I'm
afraid I can't offer you sugar, or cakes--"
"I'll bring the sugar along. I'm in barracks just outside and solid with,
the commissary."
"Heavens, what a windfall! You'll be sure to come?"
"Won't I, just? Expect me at four-thirty." He lifted his cap from his
comical head, then sainted, swung on his heel and marched off, swinging
both arms from the shoulders and looking a fine martial figure of a man.
"But still the same old Kirkpatrick," thought Alexina. "I wonder if he will
go Bolshevik?"
III
Her ring was answered by the old woman who toot care of the house and
Alexina entered the wild garden. There was an acre of it, but it had been
so long uncared for that it looked like a jungle caught between four high
gray walls. It was the property of one of the French members of the oeuvre
and was used as a storehouse for hospital supplies and as headquarters for
Alexina when business brought her to this part of the Marne valley.
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