beside him broke into his thoughts, and he
looked up into the face of the girl whom Lady Patterdale had greeted as
Joan.

"Why it's my bored friend of the photograph!" She stood for a moment
looking at him critically, rather as a would-be purchaser looks at a
horse. "And have they all run away and left you to play by yourself?"
She pulled up another chair and sat down opposite him.

"Yes. Even Sir John has deserted me." As he spoke he was wondering what
her age was. Somewhere about twenty-two he decided, and about ten more
in experience.

"For which relief much thanks, I suppose?"

"One shouldn't look a gift host in the stockings," returned Vane lightly.
"I think it's very charming of him and his wife to have us here."

"Do you? It's hopelessly unfashionable not to do war work of some sort,
and this suits them down to the ground. . . . Why the Queen visited
Rumfold the other day and congratulated Lady Patterdale on her
magnificent arrangements." There was a mocking glint in her eyes,
otherwise her face was perfectly serious.

"You don't say so." Vane gazed at her in amazement. "And did you dress
up as a nurse for the occasion?"

"No, I watched from behind a gooseberry bush. You see, I'm a very busy
person, and my work can't be interrupted even for a Royal visit."

"Would it be indiscreet," murmured Vane, "to inquire what your work is?"

"Not a bit." The girl looked solemnly at him. "I amuse the poor wounded
officers."

"And do you find that very hard?" asked Vane with becoming gravity.

"Frightfully. You see, they either want to make love to me, or else to
confide that they love another. My chief difficulty as I wander from
bush to bush is to remember to which class the temporary occupant
belongs. I mean it's a dreadful thing to assure a man of your own
undying devotion, when the day before you were sympathising with him over
Jane not having written. It makes one appear of undecided intellect."

"Why don't you institute a little system of labels?" asked Vane. "Blue
for those who passionately adore you--red for those who love someone
else. People of large heart might wear several."

"I think that's quite wonderful." She leaned back in her chair and
regarded Vane with admiration. "And I see that you're only a
Captain. . . . How true it is that the best brains in the Army adorn the
lower positions. By the way--I must just make a note of your name." She
produced a small pocketbook fro