Meanwhile  I  clutch  on  this  proposal  of  yours.
It  will  give  us  all  what  we  most  want — a  sense
of  being  useful."

The  Vicar  stepped  back  a  pace  and  eyed  him.
Then,  on  an  impulse —


128  NICKY-NAN,   RESERVIST

"  Hambly,"  he  said,  "  you  have  to  hear  Con-
fession. I  am  going  to  tell  you  something  I
have  kept  secret  even  from  my  wife.  ...  I
have  written  to  the  Bishop  asking  his  per-
mission to  volunteer  for  service."

"  May  God  bring  you  safely  back,  my  friend !
If  I  were  younger.  .  .  .  And  the  Army  will
want  chaplains."

"But  I  am  not  offering  myself  as  a  chaplain."

"How,  then?"

"I  am  asking  leave  to  fight.  .  .  .  Don't  stare,
man ;  and  don't  answer  me  until  you  have
heard  my  reasons.  Well,  you  have  read  your
newspaper  and  must  have  noted  how,  all  over
Britain,  the  bishops,  clergy,  and  ministers  of
all  denominations  are  turning  themselves  into
recruiting  sergeants  and  urging  men  to  fight.
