“Oh, he likes you as well as he does anyone, Harry.  He didn’t mean anything, I fancy, when he said that about your being chosen just now.  He was squiffed because Mr. Wharton didn’t take him, that’s all.  He thinks he ought to be ahead of everyone.”

“Well, I didn’t ask to be chosen.  I’m glad I was, of course, but I didn’t expect to be.  I think perhaps Leslie Franklin asked Mr. Wharton to take me.”

“Of course he did!  Why shouldn’t he?”

Just then the coming of the train cut them short.  From almost every window men in uniform looked out.  A few of the soldiers laughed at their scout garb, but most of them only smiled gravely, and as if they were well pleased.  The two scouts made for the nearest compartment, and found, when they were in it, that it was a first-class carriage, already containing two young officers who were smoking and chatting together.

“Hullo, young ’uns!” said one of the officers.  “Off to the war?”

They both laughed, which Harry rather resented.  “We’re under orders, sir,” he said, politely.  “But, of course, they won’t let us Scouts go to the war.”

“Don’t rag them, Cecil,” said the other officer.  “They’re just the sort we need.  Going to Ealing, boys?”

Harry checked Dick’s impulsive answer with a quick snatch at his elbow.  He looked his questioner straight in the eye.

“We weren’t told to answer any questions, sir,” he said.

Both the officers roared with laughter, but they sobered quickly, and the one who had asked the question flushed a little.

“I beg your pardon, my boy,” he said.  “The question is withdrawn.  You’re perfectly right — and you’re setting us an example by taking things seriously.  This war isn’t going to be a lark.  But you can tell me a few things.  You’re scouts, I see.  I was myself, once — before I went to Sandhurst.  What troop and patrol?”

Dick told him, and the officer nodded.

“Good work!” he said.  “The scouts are going to turn out and help, he?  That’s splendid!  There’ll be work enough to go all around, never you fear.”

“If, by any chance, you should be going to Ealing Barracks,” said the first officer, rather shyly, “and we should get off the train when you do, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t let us drive you out, is there?  We’re going there, and I don’t mind telling you that we’ve just finished a two hour leave to go and say good-bye to — to -”

His voice broke a little at that.  In spite of his light-hearted manner and his rather chaffing tone, he couldn’t help remembering that good-bye.  He was going to face whatever fate might come, but thoughts of those he might not see again could not be prevented from obtruding themselves.

“Shut up, Cecil,” said the other.  “We’ve said good-bye — that’s the end of it!  We’ve got other things to think of now.  Here we are!”