THE STRAND MAGAZINE . 
42 $ 
into silence ; the matching Highlanders were 
stayed. And in the enclosure men and women 
forgot, in their enthusiasm, to cheer. 
Then came climax — anti-climax — and most 
natural human deed. 
It was done before onlookers could realize 
it ; before hand of sentry or of any man 
could hinder her who did it out of the fullness 
of her heart. She — the doer — was the little 
woman in bonnet and mantle, with the eager 
eyes and the working, quivering lips. She 
had slipped under the ropes ; she ran forward 
with quick little tripping steps ; she was 
twenty yards in front of them before sentry 
or onlooker, wrought up by the just-seen 
spectacle, intent upon the men in mid- 
common, saw her make for the group. The 
commandant gasped his horror ; a sentry 
shouted “ Hi ! ” But it was too late. The 
little woman was safe — to work her will. 
She reached the group — as the stunned 
driver, getting use of legs and faculties, 
staggered free of his general’s arms. Those 
arms were free but a breath’s space. The 
little woman took the general by the waist. 
He hesitated — instinctively ; her words, her 
eyes implored him ; her great thankfulness 
overcame him ; he bent down and kissed her 
cheeks. Then he loosed himself, whispered 
something, the little woman answered and, 
having answered, turned. She came towards 
the ropes again. But she ran no longer, 
though her steps, of habit, tripped. And her 
head was high and the mantle and bonnet 
were not ludicrous — in the sight of the human 
— and her eyes had the pride of an old and 
proud woman which is prouder than the pride 
of men. And the foreign Prince bit his lip 
and said something to the Royal Duke beside 
him, and the Prince spoke in his own language, 
as though he had suddenly forgot his English 
— which was fluent and very good. And the 
Duke answered in the Prince’s language — 
which he had not used that day. And the 
sun shone in the Duke’s eyes, into which, it 
seemed, perspiration had dripped from his 
brow ; while on the wagon in the enclosure 
the commandant gave Lady Mildred the truth. 
“ By Jove, it’s his mother ! ” he said. 
And, as he spoke loudly, amid dead silence, 
his speech rang through the enclosure from 
end to end. And all the enclosure took up 
his words. 
“ His mother — well, I don’t wonder — it was 
topping — simply magnificent — the pluckiest 
thing I ever saw. Ripping — oh — oh, simply 
ripping — magnificent, eh ? — magnificent — 
what ? S-sh-sh ! — I say — sh-sh-h-h-h ! Here 
she comes ! ” 
She did come, quiet, proud, and triumphant, 
seeing in her deed no solecism, content as the 
mother of a man. She stooped under the 
rope that men lifted, she passed through a 
lane that men made for her, glanced up at 
the wagon, held Lady Mildred’s eyes a space, 
then disappeared from the enclosure, going 
towards the town. The enclosure began to 
empty — talking of but one thing. In the 
wagon the commandant stayed his party, 
waiting for the crush to cease. And, for the 
tenth time in five minutes, he vigorously 
blew his nose. 
“ Magnificent,” he was muttering — mag- 
nificent — it was touch — absolutely touch and 
go. The dust was as thick as a wall. He 
took his life in his hands ! ” 
“ I suppose so ! ” answered Lady Mildred, 
quickly. It was all that she could find 
breath to say. The commandant’s wife 
spoke, too. 
“ I’m glad that Prince Heinrich was there. 
It will show him what British officers will do 
for their men. But ” — she spoke reflectively, 
not unkindly, yet uttering the instincts of her 
caste — “ but it was a pity that little woman 
was so impulsive. Of course, the danger was 
terrible — and the old lady’s action was very 
natural and human — but there’s no need to 
advertise Sir John’s extraction, Lady Mildred, 
I think ! ” 
“ Really ! ” Her guest, to whom impulse , 
was ordinarily a stranger, spoke most impul- 
sively now. “ Do you really feel that, Mrs. 
Lightfoot ? I can’t agree with you — one bit. 
1 think that Sir John’s antecedents — and his 
success despite them, and other handicaps — \ 
cannot be too well or too widely known ! ” 
“ And I agree with you — entirely ! ” The 
commandant, at heart entirely of his wife’s i 
opinion, forgot his prejudices under the excite- 
ment begotten by so brave a deed. 
There was a silence : awkward, uncom- | 
fortable, and long. The commandant saved i 
the situation with a “ Now, I think, we might 
move ! ” The party descended, walked back 
across common and road, and went in at the 
Academy gates. 
Lady Mildred was tired — and she was 
shaken, she had lost faith in herself — and 
lunch and the talk with her nephews tired her 
even more. And presently she excused her- 
self and sought her room. 
She sat by the window, lying back in the 
big, low bedroom chair, with shut eyes and 
clasped hands, asking herself a question, for a 
long while finding no reply. And presently 
she asked herself no more. For against her 
thoughts another thought had forced itself, 
