“Don’t pretend to be bored and _blasé_, Dick. You know that you have come back from the wilderness with a very healthy appetite for innocent gaiety. If you wanted us to think that seven years on the Khemistan Frontier had made you a misanthrope, your face would belie you. I do like to see a young man enjoying himself thoroughly at a social gathering, and that pleasure I have whenever I take you out.” “This is adding insult to injury, Mab. Can’t you let a man alone?” “Not when he’s my brother, and I have got him all to myself after not having seen him for years. Do come with me, Dick, there’s a good boy; I want you particularly. Besides, you owe a duty to other people. Society looks favourably upon you, and it is only grateful for you to bask in its smiles. All the girls I know have said to me, ‘Mornin’. Brother’s comin’ home, isn’t he? Awf’ly plucky chap! Bring him in on our “at-home” day. Just adore soldiers.’ Then their mothers come up purringly, and say, ‘And so your _dear_ brother is coming home, Miss North? You must be _sure_ and bring him round to see me. I am _so_ much interested in young men. And _will_ he wear his Victoria Cross? It is the _dream_ of my life to see one.’” “I hope you don’t expect me to take the precious thing with me in my pocket and exhibit it? There are some things a man can’t bring himself to do, even for your sake, Queen Mab.” “No, dear boy; I won’t try you so far. I am not a despotic monarch. That means that you are going to be good and come with me, doesn’t it? Then I will reward you by saying that I don’t want you to go to an ‘at-home’ or anything of that kind this afternoon, but merely to the hospital.” “The hospital?” “Yes, the Women’s Hospital, to which I go twice a-week to read and sing to the patients. It is a great occasion there to-day--the anniversary of the opening, so that I can take you in, and the poor things are all longing to see you.” “Why, what do they know about me?”