d with piles of documents neatly
tied with green tape and ranged round the central vase of flowers; a
heavy, squat earthenware vase not easily knocked over; and there is
a second bureau with pigeon-holes and a roll top, similar to the one
at which Vivien Warren is seated. This is for the senior partner,
Honoria Fraser. Between the bureaus there is plenty of space for
access to the long west window and consequently to the parapet which
can be used like a balcony. Two small arm-chairs in green leather on
either side of the fireplace, two office chairs at the tables and a
revolving chair at each bureau complete the furniture of the
partners' room of _Fraser and Warren_ as you would have seen it
twenty years ago.

The rest of their offices consisted of a landing from which a lift
and a staircase descended, a waiting-room for clients, pleasantly
furnished, a room in which two female clerks worked, and off this a
small room tenanted by an office boy. You may also add in
imagination an excellent lavatory for the clerks, two telephones
(one in the partners' room), hidden safes, wall-maps; and you must
visualize everything as pleasing in colour--green, white, and
purple--flooded with light; clean, tidy, and admirably adapted for
business in the City.

Vivien Warren, as already mentioned, was, as the curtain goes up,
seated at her bureau, reading a letter. The letter was headed "Camp
Hospital, Colesberg, Cape Colony, May 2, 1900"; and ran thus:--

DEAREST VIVIE,--

Here I am still, but my leg is mending fast. The enteric was
the worse trouble. That is over and done with, though I am
the colour of a pig-skin saddle. My leg won't let me frisk
just yet, but otherwise I feel as strong as a horse.

When I was bowled over three months ago and the enteric got
hold of me, on top of the bullet through my thigh, I lost my
self-control and asked the people here to cable to you to
come and nurse me. It was silly perhaps--the nursing here is
quite efficient--and if any one was to have come out on my
account it ought to have been the poor old mater, who wanted
to very much. But somehow I could only think of _you_. I
wanted you more than I'd ever done before. I hoped somehow
your heart might be touched and you might come out and nurse
me, and then out of pity marry me. Won't you do so? Owing to
my stiff leg I dare say I shall be invalided out of the Army