"
The next day, encountering Derry on the street, Drusilla opened her
knitting bag and brought out a tiny parcel. "It's my wedding gift to
you. I found it in Emily's toy shop."
It was a gay little French tin soldier. "For a mascot;" she told him,
seriously. "Derry, dear, I shall not try to tell you how I feel about
your marriage to Jean. About your going. If I could sing it, you'd
know. But I haven't any words. It--it seems so--perfect that the Tin
Soldier should go--to the wars--and that the girl he leaves behind him
should be a little white maid like--Jean."
Thus Drusilla, with a shake in her voice, renouncing a--dream.
Derry, who was on his way to Margaret's showed the tin soldier to Teddy
and his little sister. "He is going to the wars."
"With you?"
"Yes."
"When are you going?"
"As soon as I can--"
"I should think you wouldn't like to leave us."
"Well, I don't. But I am coming back."
"Daddy didn't come back."
"But some men do."
"Perhaps God doesn't love you as much as He did Daddy, and He won't
want to keep you."
"Perhaps not--"
The things which the child had spoken stayed with Derry all that day.
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