Violet Jacob > Flemington

90
FLEMINGTON
war, I who have turned to it for consolation as a
man may turn to his religion. But war is not
waged against men alone in some countries. I
have seen it when it is waged against women and
little children, when it is slaughter, not war.
I have seen mothers—young, beautiful women—
fighting like wild beasts for the poor babes that
cowered behind their skirts, and I have seen
their bodies afterwards. It would be best to
forget—but who can forget ?’’
Archie sat still, with eyes from which all levity
had vanished. He had known vaguely that James
had fought under Marshal Lacy in the War of the
Polish Succession, in the bloody campaign against
the Turks, and again in Finland. The ironic
futility of things in general struck him, for it was
absurd to think that this man, seared by war and
wise in the realities of events whose rumours
shook Europe, one who had- looked upon death
daily in company with men like Peter Lacy,
should come home to be hunted down back
streets by a travelling painter. He contemplated
his companion with renewed interest; no wonder
he was ruthless in small things. He was decidedly
the most fascinating person he had known.
“ And you went to these things for consolation
—so you said ?”
“For consolation. For a thing that does not
exist,” said the other slowly.
He paused and turned to his companion with
an expression that horrified the young man and
paralyzed his curiosity. The power in his face