Anna Chapin Ray

“ Even if he had realized it, however, Ronald Leslie was not the one to flinch. In future, his life was not for himself alone. It concerned itself with his mother and with Janet who was only fourteen and had her education all before her. Ronald Leslie was wholly loyal to his kin. Nevertheless, he was conscious that, coming home after a long day in the office, it was good to find his mother's tired face and Janet's black frock relieved by the bright, blithe carelessness of Day Argyle. ”

“ The colour came into her checks, and her shoulders straightened.
"No," she fibbed. "Come on." And, chin in air, she walked resolutely forward.
For a long half-hour, they wandered to and fro and up and down, now climbing up the smooth turf of the earthworks, now picking their way along the loose boards and over the crumbling plaster that littered the barrack floor, now creeping carefully along dark passages which led to a nowhere peopled only with slow-falling drops of water that clicked against sunken rocks in the heart of the thick blackness. ”

“ The absolute desolation awed her and made her afraid, and she turned to cast an appealing glance up at Ronald. The laugh on his lips partially reassured her.
"You have wrecked the local tradition," he said jovially. "It's the first time an American ever broke into one of our forts." ”

“ Undauntedly she faced him.
"Not easy; but you'll do it."
"I wish I were sure of it."
"What difference, as long as I am?" she retorted. "When you do succeed, not one of your friends will be gladder than I."
"If you know it."
"But I shall. It may be before we go away; there's no telling how long we may have to stay here." Then silently she watched the cloud come back into the eyes of her companion. "I am quite rested," she said, as she rose. "Shall we go on?" ”

“ Well, they do."
"At?" he observed suggestively.
"At making geese of themselves," she replied, with sudden tartness. "I don't see the sense of wasting my efforts by crawling into a hole that goes nowhere. Nevertheless, I mean to see the inside of this fort."
Laughing, he held out his hand.
"No," she said, while, with a scramble and a leap, she landed on the ground beside the tottering old ladder which Ronald had dragged to the foot of the wall below the embrasure. "I intend to go inside. Meanwhile, I think I'll upset the ladder, so you can't run away while I am exploring." ”