The Four Feathers Page #3

The thin red line.

I suppose they didn't

get much to eat.

- What are you talking about?

- Well, sir, you said they were so - so thin.

Bah! The line, I meant!

- Not the men.

- Oh.

Right here was the commander in chief.

And here was I...

at the head of the old 68th.

- Sorry Father had to drag Egypt into it.

- Tired of Egypt already?

We have it for breakfast and lunch...

and the honor of the regiment

for supper.

I suppose he quite understands

you're marrying me and not the regiment.

He's not quite sure about that.

Are you... quite sure?

When we are old

and creaky with rheumatism...

we shall look back

and think of this night.

Ethne, you'll never creak.

Never in your life.

We shall creak with the best of them.

And through the creaks

will come the sound of this dance music...

and the light of the moon

and the scent of the flowers.

This is a solemn occasion, Harry.

A memory is being born tonight...

a memory that shall stand

the test of all the years.

Moments like this are better

than all the memories in the world.

The memories will be the best...

because they'll be right out of reach

of uncertainty and care.

Memories just float about on their own

with no shadows upon them.

The dance music, the moon

and evening primroses. That's all.

You're not going to rob me

of my solitary dance, Ethne.

John, I'm so sorry. It's my fault.

Is this your dance going on?

- It's just started.

- Oh, dear. There's a partner waiting for me.

Excuse me.

It wasn't his fault, John.

It was mine. I talk too much.

- Shall we dance?

- It's a polka.

- Don't you like a polka?

- A bit jerky, isn't it?

Rather like saying "good-bye"

in Morse code.

- I'm sorry, John.

- There's no need to be sorry.

- It's terribly hard to explain.

- There's nothing to explain.

You don't expect a girl

to sit down and write out a catalog -

points why I love Mr. "A,"

points why I don't love Mr. "B."

It's only Mr. "B" who sits down

and puzzles out the points against him.

I never saw such an impressive list.

Reasons why Ethne Burroughs

doesn't love John Durrance.

- Reason one -

- Don't, John.

Oh, I put down

about 40 reasons altogether.

Reason 41 was,

she loves the other man.

So I crossed the rest out.

- Thank you.

- Harry's a fine fellow.

Were you to help him,

he shall have a splendid career.

- You'll enjoy helping him, won't you?

- I hope I shall be able to.

You will.

I think you'll be very happy.

And I think I shall always love you.

Oh, John, dear.

I'm so sorry.

Oh, rubbish.

I shall be all right.

You're not going to be sorry for anything tonight.

Come and dance that polka. I've just learnt it.

- Faversham.

- See what he wants, Lubbock.

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