The street cry is heard again in two distant voices coming from
     different directions:  “War—­pyper—­sharp fightin’ on the
     frontier—­pyper.”

Katherine.  Shut out those ghouls!

As Hubert closes the window, Nurse Wreford comes in from the hall.  She is an elderly woman endowed with a motherly grimness.  She fixes Olive with her eye, then suddenly becomes conscious of the street cry.

Nurse.  Oh! don’t say it’s begun.

     [Hubert comes from the window.]

Nurse.  Is the regiment to go, Mr. Hubert?

Hubert.  Yes, Nanny.

Nurse.  Oh, dear!  My boy!

Katherine. [Signing to where Olive stands with wide eyes] Nurse!

Hubert.  I’ll look after him, Nurse.

Nurse.  And him keepin’ company.  And you not married a year.  Ah! 
Mr. Hubert, now do ’ee take care; you and him’s both so rash.

Hubert.  Not I, Nurse!

     Nurse looks long into his face, then lifts her finger, and
     beckons Olive.

Olive. [Perceiving new sensations before her, goes quietly] Good-night, Uncle!  Nanny, d’you know why I was obliged to come down? [In a fervent whisper] It’s a secret!

     [As she passes with Nurse out into the hall, her voice is heard
     saying, “Do tell me all about the war.”]

Hubert. [Smothering emotion under a blunt manner] We sail on
Friday, Kit.  Be good to Helen, old girl.

Katherine.  Oh!  I wish——!  Why—­can’t—­women—­fight?

Hubert.  Yes, it’s bad for you, with Stephen taking it like this. 
But he’ll come round now it’s once begun.

     Katherine shakes her head, then goes suddenly up to him, and
     throws her arms round his neck.  It is as if all the feeling
     pent up in her were finding vent in this hug.

     The door from the hall is opened, and sir john’s voice is heard
     outside:  “All right, I’ll find her.”

Katherine.  Father!

     [Sir John comes in.]

Sir John.  Stephen get my note?  I sent it over the moment I got to the War Office.

Katherine.  I expect so. [Seeing the torn note on the table] Yes.

Sir John.  They’re shouting the news now.  Thank God, I stopped that crazy speech of his in time.

Katherine.  Have you stopped it?

Sir John.  What!  He wouldn’t be such a sublime donkey?

Katherine.  I think that is just what he might be. [Going to the window] We shall know soon.

     [Sir John, after staring at her, goes up to Hubert.]

Sir John.  Keep a good heart, my boy.  The country’s first. [They exchange a hand-squeeze.]