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 "Alice told me about Myra and Lan."

"What?" asked David, his pulse suddenly halting. "You mean they've married! "And he might have said aloud, "And I didn't know."

"No; they're just going to. Lan's an interne in a hospital in Baltimore where his uncle is. He's going—Lan, I mean, David—to Serbia with a Baltimore medical unit; but he's going to marry Myra, first. I told Alice I'd tell you."

"You mean she asked you to?"

"No; but I told her I would."

"Alice," said David, "she'd just heard?"

"No; I don't think so."

Fidelia continued undressing but David did not; he went from the bedroom into the living room and when he returned, after a couple of minutes, it was to put on the collar and tie and coat which he had taken off.

"I'm going out for a walk, Fidel," he said.

She offered in her willing way: "Shall I dress and go with you?"

He said: "You're ready for bed."

"Yes," she accepted his refusal without offense. She came to him and touched his cheek with her palm. "You care a lot about Lan, don't you, dear?"

David cried, "I roomed with that fellow for four years! He's the fairest, squarest little fellow—" He broke off. He jerked away from Fidelia's hand but he seized her hand before she could lower it and he kissed it. "Don't you mind for me, Fidel!"

Fidelia got into bed after David went out but she had no idea of seeking sleep. She thought of David and of his mother, who was so thin and not so strong this