The War-Workers

n's private office, reversed a

ople-Belgians and the dear Tommies and every one-and I felt I simply had to come in and hear all about it. Also, I want to propound a tiny little scheme of my own which I think w

y, "that I can really hardly undertake anything more. We are

ts of official tit-bits before any one else hears a word about them. I can get anything I want through him, so you needn't worry about the War Office. In fact, to tell you rather a shocking little secret,

ily powdered face, at her enormous top-heavy

with uncomplimentary meanings, could st

at it would be simply invaluable. I want to get up a Canteen

eral Y.M.C.A.

ons. My Lewis, who's been in the Army for over fifteen years, poor angel, tells me that they all-from the Co

; it would be quite out of th

my Lewis is second in command, as you know, so that naturally his wife.... You see, the Colonel's wife is an absolute dear, but an invalid-more or less, and no more savoir faire tha

n that case you o

the consequences if I go back to London in my present state. But work I must. On

by is-er-in Eng

and considerably. "My heart bleeds for these poor wives and mothers. I simply thank

uence expended upon the subject of the war, but s

, half-unconsciously throwing an appraising glance at the files

tly as before. "Work is the only thing. My de

y prompted to any expression

got a building-that big hall just at the bottom of the street here-and I'm insisting upon having a regular opening day-so much better to start

to take breath, and

today that I haven't one moment, b

e staff, and your attractive self.

, Mrs. Willoughby, if you have any idea

e girls in Questerham are helping you, and that's exactly why I've come. I

nal attractions," said Miss Vivian, in a voice which would ha

the stairs-a perfect gem of a creature with Titian-

but recognize the desc

said. "Do you want helpers on

lf, of course, to supervise the whole thing, and I've got half a dozen dear things to he

her spare Miss B

inquired Mrs. Willoughby, not without r

of Mrs. Willoughby, and it was with positive reli

on in leaning back in her chai

uietly to answer t

," said Char, deftly making her opportunity, "but ma

ything of that sort. I had no mercy on them. One lad I absolutely dragged by main force to the recruiting office, though he said he couldn't leave his wife and babies. But, as I told him, I'd had to let my Lewis go-he was o

to these reminiscences o

it, Mis

G.V.O.

tossing off the imposing syllables, with the corner of her eye, as it were, fixe

smissal with great skill. "Some of those boys from the camp a

ations to come up, Miss Jones," drawled Char.

te-kid hand. "I shall pop in again in a day or two, and you must let me help yo

as still audible during her ru

e wished him to think her a most official and business-like woman, entirely capable of accomplishing all that she had undertak

it was almost instinctively that she strove to readjust the disturbed balance of her own s

y. I've had a most interrupted morning. No, Miss Delmege, tha

any hurry, M

now seek her cold mutton and milk-pudding with an absolute sense of guilt, as of o

gue at the other end of the room: "Miss Jones, if you care to go to lunch first

ssed, and, moreover, the time allowed being abridged by almost half an hour. Miss Delmege, in virtue of her seniority and of her ow

ause really I don

first," repeated Mi

I shall be delighted to go now," said Grace cheerfully, in an underto

elect to fast, and the conviction was perhaps responsible for the sharpness with which Char exclaimed: "For Heaven's sake d

ce said gently, "I'm sorry, Miss Vivian," disregarding or not understanding M

o make mechanical designs on the blotting-paper, while her mind turn

ng. At the same time, she had hitherto succeeded in taking over the management of almost every war organization in Questerham and the district,

. She surmised shrewdly that such details of practical requirements as a boiler, tea-urns, kitchen utensils, and the like, had not yet crossed the sanguine line of vision of Mrs. Willoughby. It would be easy enou

ould always put in an appearance, even if only for a few minutes. It would encourage her staff, and would al

the proposed scheme for the opening of a Canteen in Pollard Street, and was prepared to help with the practical management of it. She would also supply six voluntary workers between the hours of 7 and 11

f satisfaction in dictating a rather imperiously worded document, which informed each department in the office that those workers who lived in Questerham would be required to report for duty one night a week for emergency work (7

o or three extra ones for filing," commanded Miss Vivian. "You ca

Miss V

away with her ey

ssed by the staff, as they took the usual ha

said Tony excitedly. "She'd t

a success

, ra

pproval when Mrs. Bullivant at the Hostel said timidly: "If you're to be down there at seven, it'll be rather difficult to arrange

r that Miss Vivian practically never gets her supper till long after ten every night, and she doesn't get

that she must see what she could do. "Anyhow, it won't

ery quickly wi

open some time in December," said

ing that the Monthly Averages were divided

Sunday is all

was added to the enjoyment of it by the knowledge that the arrival of a troop-train might bring or

ek-end, but the majority remained in the Hostel. Mrs. Bullivant tried to make the day "bright a

r marked the day from

breakfast in bedroom slipper

doir-cap arrangement. But I must say nobody liked it-just like a greasy foreigner, she was. All the sleeves loose, y

id Grace, shivering. She disliked the cold

rm, isn't it, dear? That's what I like about Sundays-dainty clothes again," said Miss

o had received several shocks on first beholding the

yourself, only your plain clothes are too like your unifo

ly; and Miss Marsh at once thought that perhaps poor li

ly nice, dear, and crêpe de

ippers and shuffled across the room. "How lucky you

e had a book open on the dressing-table in front of her, but was characteristic

ever heard of him. How fond you are of reading, Gracie! I

very book-lover, Grace remained silent. Her solitary extrava

must come up and make my bed afterwards.

Marsh's heelless slippers clap

eakfast the girls clustered

y. How beastly!" said Tony

, upon which several people at once decided that they wo

uesterham which the Hostel tho

he fire. Miss Delmege wrote a number of letters and Tony da

day, exerted herself and made some rather smoked coffe

be any music this af

ery thing for such an afternoon, but no

" implored Miss Hen

g all the songs that she was asked for. The taste of the Hostel was definite in songs. "A Perfect Day" and "The Rosary" were

deep tones. She tried to make her sing "Three Fishers," but Miss Plumtree sa

ss Delmege, the possessor of a high, thin soprano, which, she often explained, had b

ever the original organ might have been, it was now educated into a refined squeak, overweighted with affectations which to Miss Delmege represented the art of production. She sang various improvident love-songs i

," said the singer, in a professional way which final

y and Miss Henderson made toast for tea and put the largest and least burnt pieces aside for her. Tea, with the aid of conversatio

said Miss Henderson, voicing the general

lephone. How cold she'll be, s

solicitously. "I particularly reminded her to build up a g

oon," said Grace. "There was nothing

ly. "I've never known her miss a Sunday yet. Besides, I know she was t

elmege goes to evening church on purpose to look up a

rent taste, and verging on irreverence almost equally as re