A Patriotic Schoolgirl

Cross

, and they were looking forward immensely to returning home. They had, on the whole, enjoyed th

. "I'm getting so fearfully excited. Just think of seeing Mother and Peter and Cyril and Joan again! And there's always the hope t

aid he'd have no leave till the spring, and Leonard doesn't expect his eithe

the camp near Whitecliffe. He promised he'd come and take me out, and give me tea at a café. It would

to take us there this afte

risks, their cousin had quite a dif

ays promised to show you over, only it was never convenient befor

istmas!" ex

pportunity. It's Lord and Lady Greystones, and Admiral Webster. There'll be speeches, you know, and all that kind of thing. It'll please the Tommies. Oh,

D. uniforms. Marjorie scanned them with admiring and envio

hed. "Oh, I wish I were old enough to l

halmers

orning. Sometimes I'd give everything in th

I," agre

.A.D. to do?" asked M

s a full-time nurse, and is sent to one of the big hospitals. Elaine and I are only half-timers. We go in the mornings

hard to k

d trying not to go to sleep. I was busy all the time. I had to get the trays ready for breakfa

y for a Sunday-school te

smelt of fish for days afterwards. I didn't mind, though, as it was for the Tommies. They enjoyed their fried herrings immensely. What else did I have to do in the night? When the breakfast trays were ready, I used to disinfect my hands and sterilize the scissors, and then make swabs for next day's dressi

you paddled,"

sn't it rat

arjorie and Dona, who we

and Violet and I were only waiting about downstairs, so we stole out and rushed down to the beach and paddled. It was gorgeous; the sea looked so lovely in that early morning light

n the day-shifts?

el potatoes and cut up carrots and stir the milk puddings.

orders from the dispensary and operating-theatre and sterilizing-ward. If you forget anything there's a row! Dressings are going on practically all th

there's a new convoy

ntered in the books, with every detail, down to their diets. They're so glad when they get to their quarters, poor fel

very little alteration. Dining-room, drawing-room, and billiard-rooms had been turned into wards, the library was an office, and the best bedroom an operating-theatre. A wooden hut had

ked very bright and cheerful. There were pots of ferns and flowers on the tables, and the walls had been decorated for the occasion with flags and evergreens and patriotic mottoes. In a large tub in the centr

ch of the patients had fought at the front, and had been wounded for his King and his Country. England owed them a debt of gratitude, and nothing that could

see some of the Tommies, w

she was feeling somewhat sick and faint at the sight of so many invalids, though she did not dare to confess such foolishness for fear of being la

accustomed to being shown off by their nurses. Some were shy and would say nothing but "Yes", "No",

rd. He's lost his right leg, but he's going on ve

ned to the visitors, "my right leg was fractured at the beginning of the war, and I was eighteen months in hospital with it at Harpenden, and they were

ad," sympathi

unded on sentry duty. He'd been out since the beginning of the war, and had not had a scr

ooed by one of those black fellows. He'd put a camel on it, and a bird and a monkey, and my initials and a hea

y shy and would not speak, though

ie and watch what's going on in the ward. This boy in the next bed is most amusing. He sends everyone into fits. He's only eighteen, poor lad! Webster, here are

of a chap--" began

laine. "I want my cousins to h

oblige y

red the ward. They could hear a sheep bleating, a duck quacking, a dog barking, hens clucking, a cock crowin

crept back to her cheeks. She was beginning

le to enjoy themsel

ly deafened. We don't like to check them if it keeps up their spirits, poor fellows! You see, there's always such a pathetic side to it. Some of them will be cripples to the end of their days, and they're still so young. It seems dreadful. Think of P

inary Tommies her

just time before our grand visitors arrive. We must stop and say a word at each bed, or the men will feel left out. We try not to show any favouritism to the gentlemen Tommies. This is Wilkinson-he reads the newspaper through every day and

e next bed?" asked

ies," whispered Elaine. "An old Rugby boy-he

r, Elaine hurried away immediately, leavi

t familiar. She glanced at the board on the bed-head and saw: "Hilton Tamworthy Pre

ogether from Silver

going down the other side of the ward," he replied

id you know that we wer

re, so I twigged at once that you were Brackenfielders. Your

four-wheeler, but we were glad to

you like

r than Dona does. We're going hom

ar all about it. Do you still call Mrs. Morrison 'The Empress'? I expect th

wounded?" ask

e to be up quite soon. The Doctor promised

Relentless, and another in training," voluntee

ive brothers, who

you get

anything very particular! Any of

t it here in

ther has i

loved to

ght it would be safer at home. Hallo! Here c

ents saluted as the visitors entered, and those who were able stood up, but the majority had perforce to remain seated. Escorted by the Commandant, the august visitors first made a tour of inspection round the ward, nodding or saying a few words to the patients in bed. Speeches followed from Lord Greystones and the Admiral, and from one of the Governors of the hospital. They were sti

e parcels, and Lady Greystones distributed them to the men, with a pleasant word and a smile for e

hem like books, but very few. Oh, here come the tea-trays! You can help me to take them round, if you like. The convalescents are to have tea in the dining-room. They've a simply enormous

a moment, and turn

hurriedly. "I hope yo

nvalescent home, and shall be leaving here as soon as I can get up. I ho

to co