It's been going on the whole morning--and down
the whole front from Arras to the Scarpe.'
'And we've held?--we've _held_?'
'So far magnificently. Our outpost troops have been withdrawn to the
battle-zone--that's all. The line has held everywhere. The Germans
have lost heavily.'
'Outpost troops!' whispered the boy--'why, that's nothing! We always
expected--to lose the first line. Good old Army!'
A pause, and then--so faintly breathed as to be scarcely audible,
and yet in ecstasy--'England!--England!'
His joy was wonderful--heart-breaking--while all those around him
wept.
He lay murmuring to himself a little while, his hand in Pamela's.
Then for a last time he looked at his father, but was now too weak
to speak. His eyes, intently fixed on the Squire, kept their
marvellous brightness--no one knew how long. Then gently, as though
an unseen hand put out a light, the brilliance died away--the lids
fell--and with a few breaths Desmond's young life was past.
CHAPTER XVII
It was three weeks after Desmond's death.
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