XVI As the Colonel marched up the platform in search of a suitable seat in the Willstead train, he spied his niece, Victoria, sitting in a corner, knitting--though not with the practised ease of the born knitter--for dear life, regardless of observation, and obviously full of thought. “Hello, Uncle Tony!”--as he sat down beside her. “What’s the latest from Head-Quarters? I’ve been up at a meeting of the Committee that is to look after Out-of-Work Girls. We’re going to start them all knitting and sewing for the men at the front both on land and sea.” “Capital! And you’re by way of setting them an example.” “I was just thinking some things out, and Auntie Mitt and Mrs Dare are quite right----” “Of course they are.” “You can think a great deal better when your hands are employed.” “Personally, I----” “Oh--you’re only a man. You know nothing about it. Any news?” “Yes. I’ve just been to see Alma,”--she stopped knitting and eyed him sharply,--“Con’s name is in the list of missing--” she gave a sigh of relief and went on knitting furiously,--“It may be no more than that,--prisoner of war in Germany----” “They’re treating prisoners and wounded abominably,” she said severely,--to hide the anxiety that was in her. “There have been such cases reported. Let us hope they are the natural exaggerations of war. Anyway, till we hear more we can hope for the best, and to his people we must keep hopeful faces. His mother will naturally fear the worst. Do all you can to keep her spirits up and make no more of it than the facts warrant.” “I’ll do my best. But ... I’ll not be satisfied he’s all right till we hear from himself. How long will it be--if he is all right?” “It may be weeks, my dear. Things are in something of a mess over there, you see. Everything has gone so quickly. One hardly has time to breathe, and the Germans are too busy driving on to Paris to spare time for such little details as that. Anyway he’s not among the dead or wounded--not officially so far----” “It might mean either. We’re falling back. Many of our dead and wounded must get left behind. I wish I could go out and help.” “Alma’s going,--at least she’s put down her name. But I hope she’ll think better of it. She’ll get news quicker here than out there. But you could do nothing without training, you know.” “To be sitting on Committees and talking,--and knitting, when our poor fellows are bleeding to death out there!” she said bitterly. “Why on earth didn’t you insist on me learning nursing too? I could wash their hands and faces anyway.” “You’ll find plenty to do at home, my dear. Only the fully qualified are any use out there. Presently,--ay already,--there are widows and orphans to look after, and your out-of-work girls, and the wives and children who are not yet widows and orphans but may be any day. Plenty to do at home for all of us. But, for the moment, we’ve got to quiet Mrs Dare’s fears for Con.”