ree. Then every morning and
every evening they put a board in the window up at the Public Health
Office in the High Street, with headings on it: 'Very dangerously ill,
friends requested to come at once.' 'Very ill, but no immediate danger,'
'Getting on well,' and the numbers grouped against them. She'll be
amongst the 'Getting on wells.' The doctor said there was no cause for
worry at all. He is a splendid doctor."

"But, my God, can't you telephone?"

"No, of course not. They can't do that in these institutions. They'd
have to keep someone to do nothing but answer the telephone all day. But
it doesn't really matter. Hardly anybody dies of fevers, do they? I
never heard of anybody dying of diphtheria, did you? They used to in the
old days, but it's all different now. This serum's such a wonderful
thing. But they did hurt so when they injected it. She cried, although
she is awful brave as a usual thing. Oh, let's get on with this supper!"
She passed into the kitchen and began preparations for a meal, banging
down the saucepans, while he brought in his gifts and laid them on the
table. "I'm taking it for granted that you like your cocoa done with
milk. What's all this? Oh, did you bring those flowers for her? Oh, that
was kind of you! Pink flowers, too, and she loves pink. It's her great
grief that all her life she wanted a pink dress, and what with one thing
and another, first having a younger sister so sallow that a pink dress
in the neighbourhood spoilt all her chances, and afterwards father just
wincing if there seemed any chance of her having anything she liked, she
never got one. Illustrated papers, too! She likes a read, though nothing
intellectual. Richard, I do believe you're thoughtful. That'll be a
great help in our married life." She turned over the glossy pages,
clicking her tongue with disapproval. "Anti-Suffragists to a woman, I
expect," adding honestly, "but pairfect teeth."

Her little face, seen now in repose, unlit by the light that glowed in
her eyes when she looked at him, was piteous with fatigue. "Ellen, can't
I go and look at this board?"

"No. I want to go myself."

"Then come and do it now, and then we'll go on and have supper at some
place in Princes Street."

"No. I want to leave it as late as possible. Then it'll seem like saying
good-night to Mother."

They ate but little. She tasted a few mouthfuls, and then clambered on
to his knee and lay in his arms, burying her face against his s