The War-Workers

erham, Miss Vivian, Director of the Midland S

lock that morning, as they had worked the day before and would work again the next d

g but "shop," either in th

iss Vivian looked a

rain wasn't in till past ten o'clock. I think

wo hours before the train gets in, though. I've got the usual blister t

scoffing laugh f

n there yesterday afternoon for ages. I thought he was never going. I stood outside her door for half an hou

unless we're sent for. I simply didn't know what to do about those surgical supplies for the Town Hospital

"But yesterday, you know, when the D.G.V.O. wouldn't go, I thought she was going to be late at

idly. "I shall never forget one day last week when I didn't know which way to

was telling you," she hurried on, affecting to be unaware that Miss Marsh and her neighbour were exchanging glances, "when I saw that it was getting later every minute, and the D.G.V.O. seemed rooted to the spot, I simply went straight downstairs and rang up Miss Vi

o laugh in solitary e

hat the train will be in at eight o'clock, Miss Vivian, and it's half-past seven now.' She just said 'Thank you,' and rang off; but she must have

traight," said Miss Henderson boldly. She had a reputation for being "downright" of which she was aware, and

le giggling girl whom the others always called Tony, because her surname was Anth

sn't it

te I saw her: How killing to see Mi

Marsh, with an air of originality. "She was carrying cigarettes for the

ancy Marsh stopping Miss Vivian in the middle o

one la

ted Tony. "That's the official penalty for mak

ulated accents of her neighbours, "one day I absolutely did tell Miss Vivian when her hat was crooked.

e always looks nice any

lmege. "She's most awfully human, you know, really. That's

," Miss Marsh agre

e raised he

rking in her room, as I do, I suppose I see qui

age Miss Vivian's secretary in her all-too-frequent

rker came in, lookin

Mrs. Potter, aren't

has a consumptive son or something-and could they be moved to the seaside at once. So I told Miss Vivian, and she said I was to get them moved directly. At once-today, you know. Of course, it was perfectly absurd-they couldn't even get packed up-and I told her so; but she said, 'Oh, settle it all by te

ccupied wicker arm-chair in the ro

d sympat

sn't realize what an awful lot

, that's absurd," said Miss Delmege sharply. "She knows exactly what each department has to do, but, of course, s

from enchanted with the

e regular work all right. But I must say, I do think she's inconsiderate over these lightning touch

if she can help it," exclaimed Miss Marsh; and Miss

k before everything. She never spares herself, so

can't bear to think any one is suffering when she could possibly help them; she'll simply go miles out of her way to do something for a wounded soldier or a Belgian refuge

ul," said Mrs. Potter

ing a permanent expression of fluster. She had only been at the Hostel a f

ed,

last night, stamping the letters, and

, with the hint of scepticism which she always managed to

dn't come down till very late. Miss Vivian w

arsh instructively; "we finish work at about six or seven o'clock, and then just come across the r

he office by ten e

er hands, and I think she knows it. I think she knows I'd do simply anything for her; but she really wants some one who c

there's the suppe

oped dow

iciled there. The girls slept three or four in a room; the Superintendent had a tiny bedroom, and a slightly larger sitting-room adjoi

on the wooden kitchen chairs. The windows were set high up in the walls, and

red lithographs

g as chairs were drawn back or pulle

ext me

, Tony; get the oth

to place herself beside any one, and settled herself with

tendent sat

te in life, and been left a widow within two years of her marriage. She worked very hard, and

y of them still wearing a hat. But little Mrs. Bullivant always appeared in a rather pallid example of the dyer or cleaner's art, and said hopefully: "One of

r and could never keep a servant for long. She made no secret

d rapidly become, as it were, fish for Miss Vivian's net. Each and all were under her control, and the rivalry between

doing to-day?" Mrs. Bul

was readily

ubject of comment, and Miss Delmege was again reminded of the story, which she told with quiet

, it's different for you, Miss Delmege, working in her room

little Superintendent. She was incapable of snubbing any one, but the Hos

ged the conversatio

hone duty tonigh

worse

your head is bad aga

Miss Plumt

longer hours than any one else, and had a reputation for "making muddles." It was popularly supposed that Miss Vivian

Marsh asked concernedly. "I can take

't got leave to change. You know last time, when Tony

ay you'r

ke it," said Miss Plumtree, l

n bed, I must say," said M

ps of letters to-night. I can answer for the Hospital Department, anyway," sighed Miss Henderson. "Marshy,

u were going

r night. I'm not a bit keen on pict

t Miss Vivian is, if she thinks one's shirking, and I'm not at all in her good books at the moment, either. There

answer for it that Miss Vivian would be the first person to say you ought to let some one else take duty for you. I'd do it myse

herself as ready to answer for Miss Vivian, no one had eve

ht not to risk it," said Miss Henderson

e; but her round apple-blossom face was drawn

ried consultation between M

e ought to be tucked up in her bye-byes this minute. Sh

yes. What have thi

nobody seems to have had their heads snapped off. There wasn't a fearfu

etween her and us. Didn't you hear her tonight? 'I think I can answer for Miss Vivian,'" mimicked Tony in an exaggerated falsetto. "I shoul

y, can you ke

the

ow it officially at all, because I only saw it on a telegram I sent for the Billeting Department.

u mean Delmege h

er, because there is so much work for one secretar

ve heard that

aneous dash at the hall-door as Miss Plumtree, in

straight up to bed, and I'll tell Miss

a brick

as much for me some d

Plumtree thankfully took the felt

irected Tony, "an

t one left,

else has any. I bel

aspirin, but she hoisted herself out of her arm-chair a

out into

kettle from somebody else, and went upstairs to boil some water, fo

irs with a cup of tea and the aspirin, bot

fter that, I expect,"

to get into bed qui

a room with Miss Delm

d her room-mate both crept upstairs soon after nine o'clock, lest their entrance later should aw

they could hope to get until the solitary gas-ring should have served the turn of numerous waiting kettl

alfway downstairs in her pink flannelette dressing-gown

at half-past nine. Jolly good thing, too

ght about your

lumtree had gone to bed, and asked if

lly decen

ngage up, too. She always think

nisters and said in a subdued

be all right. I thought I c