f anybody were to come and say to you," said May, looking deeply into
her cup, "'Will you join a Society for the painless extermination of
Belindas--Belindas of both classes--Belindas in expensive furs, and
tattered Belindas,' wouldn't you become a member, or at least give a
guinea?"

Lady Dashwood smiled a little. "Dear May, how satirical you are with
your poor old aunt!"

"I'm not satirical," said May.

"I'm afraid," groaned Lady Dashwood, "it's mainly because we think
things will be made straight in the next world that we don't do enough
here. Now, I haven't that excuse, May, because you know I never have
looked forward to the next world. Somehow I can't!"

Something in her aunt's voice made May look round at her.

"Don't be sorrowful, dear," she said.

"Now that I've slanged Belinda," murmured Lady Dashwood, "I've begun to
think about my own short-comings."

"Nonsense, dear aunt," said May. "You are not accustomed to think about
yourself; it must be a sign that you are not feeling well. I shall ring
for Louise." May spoke in a bantering voice, but her eyes did not smile.

"For mercy's sake, don't," said Lady Dashwood.

The glow had faded from the roof of the college opposite, and had become
grey and cold when May got up and took the little tea tray from her Aunt
Lena's bed.

"Now, I've got just a few lines more to add to my letter to my old dear
one," said Lady Dashwood. "Suppose you go down and see what's
happening?"

"What's happening!" said May, but she did not ask a question, merely she
repeated her aunt's words.

"Yes, dear," said Lady Dashwood. "What's happening. All sorts of things
happen, you know; things go on! Please ring, I want Louise to clear
away. Now, go down into the drawing-room and, if you see Jim, give him
my love."

May went into the empty drawing-room and sat there till it grew dark,
doing nothing. Robinson came in to make up the fire and draw the
curtains. He apologised for his lateness, explaining that he did not
think any one was in the drawing-room.

"Will you have dinner with 'er ladyship?" he asked, "or in the
dining-room, m'm? The Warden is dining in 'all."

May walked to a little table and took up one of the books that were
lying there.

"Upstairs, please, Robinson," she answered.

She began looking through the book, turning over the pages, but the
print seemed unintelligible. She stood listening to Robinson's movements
in the room. Then the door opened and the War