"Uncle Arthur
says I've got a chance to prove I'm a soldier's son and a Thorndyke, and
I'm going to do it. The enemy's encamped over in the hospital, and I'm
going to move on his works to-day. I'm going over with my staff. This is
Corporal Thorndyke, and Colonel Chester Thorndyke and Captain Stephen
Thorndyke and Lieutenant Stuart Thorndyke are my staff. And the corporal
has promised that they'll go with me in uniform. I'm going to wear my
uniform, too--may I?"
The oddness of the question, made in a tone which dropped suddenly and
significantly from the proud address of the officer to the humble
request of the subaltern, brought a very tender smile to Mrs.
Thorndyke's lips, as she gave her brother a grateful glance. "Yes," she
said, "I think you certainly ought to wear your uniform. I'll get it
ready."
"I may be taken prisoner over there," the little soldier pursued, "but
if I do, Uncle Ar--the corporal says that's the fortunes of war, and I
must take it as it comes."
Downstairs, presently, David, under a flag of truce, met the opposing
general and his staff.
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