that she was certain to bear. Of course, she realized that the first half year was no test yet it might be all of her time; at any moment the order might be given for the division, to which David was attached, to entrain for a port. Indeed, repeatedly rumor ran in Rockford that the division was immediately to go overseas to complete its instruction in France or England.
There Fidelia was; and amid Alice's fears of the war, grew again fear of Fidelia, which for a time had abated. She imagined, not Fidelia's return, but David's meeting her on a London street. "What then?" Alice challenged herself. "Nothing," herself replied. No act, surely, and no word disloyal to her; for acts and words would be within his control. But feeling would not be!
She put down such thoughts. David showed nothing but love for her, even when he was caught off guard.
She was standing with David and a few other girls and men on a Rockford street when a man came up and hailed, "Hello, Herrick! How's that wonderful wife of yours?"
"Hello," David replied and he caught Alice's arm with a firmness of pressure which she did not understand until she met the stranger's stare after David said, "This is my wife."
"Oh!" said the fellow. "Oh! Glad to meet you," he muttered and turned away without interest.
David led her away from the others and she looked up at him and asked, "He knew you and Fidelia?"
"The idiot!" David said and swore at the fellow and clung to her and made her happy.
