III + 

When they went back to the antimacassars they talked cheerfully of ordinary things. Vernon only touched once on the future. + 

тАЬNell, when IтАЩm gone, will you go to your mother, or what?тАЭ + 

тАЬNo. IтАЩd rather stay down here. There are lots of things to do in WiltsburyтБатАФhospital, canteen.тАЭ + 

тАЬYes, but I donтАЩt want you to do anything. I think youтАЩd be better distracted in London. There will still be theatres and things like that.тАЭ + 

тАЬNo, Vernon, I must do somethingтБатАФwork, I mean.тАЭ + 

тАЬWell, if you want to work, you can knit me socks. I hate all this nursing business. I suppose itтАЩs necessary but I donтАЩt like it. You wouldnтАЩt care to go to Birmingham?тАЭ + 

Nell said very decidedly that she would not like to go to Birmingham. + 

The actual parting when it came was less strenuous. Vernon kissed her almost offhandedly. + 

тАЬWell, so long. Cheer up. EverythingтАЩs going to be all right. IтАЩll write as much as I can, though I expect weтАЩre not allowed to say much thatтАЩs interesting. Take care of yourself, Nell darling.тАЭ + 

One almost involuntary tightening of his arms round her, and then he almost pushed her from him. + 

He was gone. + 

She thought, тАЬI shall never sleep tonightтБатАКтБатАж neverтБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

But she did. A deep heavy sleep. She went down into it as into an abyss. A haunted sleepтБатАФfull of terror and apprehension that gradually faded into the unconsciousness of exhaustion. + 

She woke with a keen sword of pain piercing her heart. + 

She thought, тАЬVernonтАЩs gone to the war. I must get something to do.тАЭ + 