Page:Waylaid by Wireless - Balmer - 1909.djvu/334

Rh seemed infinitely separated and put far away.

And young Preston, after wrestling a moment with the renunciation he had just spoken, felt his determination slipping from him as he turned again to the girl.

"This awful trip?" she mocked lightly.

He caught his breath.

"You know I didn't mean that. You know—"

"Listen!" she checked him.

"It's only the band again, and—'God Save the King! he interpreted, as he listened.

"Yes; but some of the English are singing. See them standing down there with caps off! Then they will play the 'Star Spangled Banner,' which, I am ashamed to say, most of us Americans can't sing. But they will play it anyway! And then it will be all over."

"You mean that you must go in then? Oh, can't you wait just a little longer?" He hesitated anxiously for an argument. "There is 306