was a reservist, answering the army’s call for mobilisation. They showed little interest in a young man making enquiries about a future career as an officer.
Perys was eventually fortunate enough to find a captain who appeared to be working in an administrative capacity in the office of the commanding officer. Although he too was busy, he listened sympathetically to Perys and, searching through a filing cabinet, pulled out a thin file.
Reading through it he frowned, then looked at Perys uncertainly. ‘You are Perys Sampson Tremayne?’
‘That’s right,’ Perys said, delighted that he seemed to be getting somewhere at last.
Closing the file and returning it to the cabinet, the officer said, ‘I am sorry, old chap, but it seems that Major Stokes feels unable to recommend you for a commission.’
Perys was flabbergasted. His education, plus the recommendation of his uncle - not to mention the present emergency - should have been more than enough to have him accepted.
‘But why? Does he give a reason?’
The captain shook his head. ‘He doesn’t have to, really. But don’t be too downhearted about it. How old are you?’
‘Almost nineteen.’ Perys found it difficult to accept that his application had been turned down for no apparent reason.
‘If you are really keen to join the army I suggest you enlist. If you are officer material you will soon be noticed and a commission should follow. Besides, it will give time for those to heal.’ He indicated Perys’s bandaged hands. ‘What have you done to them, anything serious?’
‘No.’ Perys did not elaborate. ‘But . . . my application. My great-uncle wrote a letter of recommendation to Major Stokes. I was given a virtual guarantee of a commission.’
‘I’m sorry, young man. I’ve told you what is on your file - and that is more than I should have said. You can come in to see the major on his return, if you wish, but he is not a man prone to changing his mind. Now, if you will excuse me, I have a great deal of work to do ’
After stammering his thanks to the captain, Perys left the office and made his way to where he had tethered the Heligan horse. He was thoroughly dismayed. His whole future had been built about a service career. He could think of no reason why his application should have been turned down. It was, of course, possible it had something to do with his dubious parentage. Yet given the recommendation of Hugh Tremayne and the education he had received, it was highly unlikely to be the sole reason. Many great soldiers had been born in similar circumstances.
There had to be some other reason. Perhaps there had been a misunderstanding. He needed to discuss it with Maude. She knew Major Stokes and might be able to provide some answers.
* * *
Approaching Heligan, Perys was forced to a halt at a set of hurdles placed across the lane between two open field gates on either side. A few minutes later a flock of sheep was driven between them, from one field to the other. The shepherdess was Annie.
Apologising for keeping him waiting, she closed the gate of the field that now contained the sheep. Perys dismounted and helped her to move the hurdles into the field from which the sheep had come.
Pointing to his bandaged hands, Annie asked sympathetically, ‘Did you hurt those yesterday?’
‘Yes. I feel a bit foolish about it, really, getting blisters just through rowing a boat.’
‘From what I’ve heard there was rather more to it than just rowing a boat. Folk in Mevagissey say the man you rescued was the ship’s captain. They are full of praise for you and for Miss Morwenna, too. One or two have said they’d rather be treated by her than by the doctor.’
‘I believe she has had a very thorough training as a nurse,’ Perys explained.
‘Such skills will be needed if this war goes on for very long,’ Annie commented. After a moment’s hesitation, she added, ‘Do you think it will mean you’ll be going away sooner than you
Perys was eventually fortunate enough to find a captain who appeared to be working in an administrative capacity in the office of the commanding officer. Although he too was busy, he listened sympathetically to Perys and, searching through a filing cabinet, pulled out a thin file.
Reading through it he frowned, then looked at Perys uncertainly. ‘You are Perys Sampson Tremayne?’
‘That’s right,’ Perys said, delighted that he seemed to be getting somewhere at last.
Closing the file and returning it to the cabinet, the officer said, ‘I am sorry, old chap, but it seems that Major Stokes feels unable to recommend you for a commission.’
Perys was flabbergasted. His education, plus the recommendation of his uncle - not to mention the present emergency - should have been more than enough to have him accepted.
‘But why? Does he give a reason?’
The captain shook his head. ‘He doesn’t have to, really. But don’t be too downhearted about it. How old are you?’
‘Almost nineteen.’ Perys found it difficult to accept that his application had been turned down for no apparent reason.
‘If you are really keen to join the army I suggest you enlist. If you are officer material you will soon be noticed and a commission should follow. Besides, it will give time for those to heal.’ He indicated Perys’s bandaged hands. ‘What have you done to them, anything serious?’
‘No.’ Perys did not elaborate. ‘But . . . my application. My great-uncle wrote a letter of recommendation to Major Stokes. I was given a virtual guarantee of a commission.’
‘I’m sorry, young man. I’ve told you what is on your file - and that is more than I should have said. You can come in to see the major on his return, if you wish, but he is not a man prone to changing his mind. Now, if you will excuse me, I have a great deal of work to do ’
After stammering his thanks to the captain, Perys left the office and made his way to where he had tethered the Heligan horse. He was thoroughly dismayed. His whole future had been built about a service career. He could think of no reason why his application should have been turned down. It was, of course, possible it had something to do with his dubious parentage. Yet given the recommendation of Hugh Tremayne and the education he had received, it was highly unlikely to be the sole reason. Many great soldiers had been born in similar circumstances.
There had to be some other reason. Perhaps there had been a misunderstanding. He needed to discuss it with Maude. She knew Major Stokes and might be able to provide some answers.
* * *
Approaching Heligan, Perys was forced to a halt at a set of hurdles placed across the lane between two open field gates on either side. A few minutes later a flock of sheep was driven between them, from one field to the other. The shepherdess was Annie.
Apologising for keeping him waiting, she closed the gate of the field that now contained the sheep. Perys dismounted and helped her to move the hurdles into the field from which the sheep had come.
Pointing to his bandaged hands, Annie asked sympathetically, ‘Did you hurt those yesterday?’
‘Yes. I feel a bit foolish about it, really, getting blisters just through rowing a boat.’
‘From what I’ve heard there was rather more to it than just rowing a boat. Folk in Mevagissey say the man you rescued was the ship’s captain. They are full of praise for you and for Miss Morwenna, too. One or two have said they’d rather be treated by her than by the doctor.’
‘I believe she has had a very thorough training as a nurse,’ Perys explained.
‘Such skills will be needed if this war goes on for very long,’ Annie commented. After a moment’s hesitation, she added, ‘Do you think it will mean you’ll be going away sooner than you
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