"Well, you've got the money now," answered Mr. Trupp. "But I'm afraid you've made an enemy. And that seems to me a bit of a pity just now." "Colonel Lewknor?" snorted Alf. "I ain't afraid o him!" "I don't know," said Mr. Trupp. "It's the day of the soldier." That evening, after the day's work, Alf was summoned to his employer's study. Mrs. Trupp was leaving it as he entered. "I've been thinking things over, Alfred," said the old man. "There's no particular reason why you shouldn't drive for me for the present if you like--until you're wanted out there. But I shall want you to destroy this." He handed his chauffeur Ruth's notice to quit. Alf tore the paper up without demur. "That's all right, sir," he said cheerfully. "That was a mistake. I understood the Army Service Corps was taking over my garage; and I should want a roof over my head to sleep under." He went back to his car. Another moment, and the door of the Manor-house opened. Ruth emerged briskly and gave him a bright nod. "Can't stop now, Alf," she said. "I'm off to see Mrs. Lewknor. See you again later." "That's right," Alf answered. "She's on the committee for seeing to the married women ain't she?--them and their _lawful_ children. Reverend Spink's on it too." He stressed the epithet faintly. A moment Ruth looked him austerely in the eyes. Then she turned up the hill with a nod. She understood. There was danger a-foot again. The matter of the hostel settled, Mrs. Lewknor, before everything an Imperialist, and not of the too common platform kind, was free to serve. And she had not far to look for an opening. The Mayor summoned a meeting in his parlour to consider the situation of the families of soldiers called to the colours. Mrs. Lewknor was by common consent appointed honorary secretary of the Association formed; and was given by her committee a fairly free discretion to meet the immediate situation. Nearly sixty, but still active as a cat, she set to work with a will. Her sitting room at Undercliff she turned into an office. Her mornings she gave to interviewing applicants and her afternoons to visiting. Ruth Caspar was one of the first to apply. The little slight Jewish lady with her immense experience of life greeted the beautiful peasant woman who had never yet over-stepped the boundaries of Sussex with a brilliant smile. "There's not much I want to know about you," she said. "We belong to the same regiment. Just one or two questions that I may fill up this form." How many children had Mrs. Caspar. "Three, 'M ... and a fourth." Mrs. Lewknor waited. "Little Alice," continued Ruth, downcast and pale beneath her swarthiness. "Before I were married." Mrs. Lewknor wrote on apparently unconcerned.