‘_What_ work? And where?’ He caught a note of desperation in her tone. ‘Scrubbing hospital floors? Or playing about with Belgians and invalids here, while Sheila is at Boulogne, you scouring France in our car, and Mark in the thick of it all? He wants me to stay here, I know. But, Keith, I simply _can’t_. What else, though, can a useless woman of fifty do?’ ‘To start with, she can refrain from calling herself useless, which is a libel! To go on with⸺’ He paused, regarding her. The supposed spy was meditating a bold suggestion. ‘Helen—could you ... would you ... come out with me as my orderly? If so, I could confine my activities to the Base. I verily believe you’d find the real thing less nerve-racking than the nightmares of an imagination like yours. But, could you stand it, physically? And ... would the conventions permit?’ Her low laugh answered him straight away. ‘My dear Keith, talk of inspiration! It would just save my soul alive. I can act infinitely better than I can endure. I should feel nearer to Mark. And as for the conventions, I hanged them all years ago. What harm, if the poor dead things are drawn and quartered?’ She checked herself and looked up at him. ‘Will you take your Bible oath that I shouldn’t simply be in the way?’ ‘I’ll take it on as many Bibles as you like to produce,’ he answered, with becoming gravity. ‘But I’m thinking ... for your sake ... another woman.... How about Sheila?’ ‘Sheila! Lovely.’ ‘Would she give up her precious massage?’ ‘If _I_ wanted her, she’d give up anything. But—the massage wouldn’t bring her up against the worst horrors. Your work would. And she’s full young—barely three and twenty.’ ‘She is that. Though, if I’m any good at observation, I should say the stature of her spirit is far in advance of her years. She gives me the impression of great reserve power, that girl. She never seems to put out her full strength, or to waste it in kicking against the pricks.’ ‘One for me!’ Lady Forsyth murmured meekly. ‘Yes, one for you! And I make bold to prophesy she would be worth five of you in a painful emergency.’ He made that unflattering statement in a tone of such extraordinary tenderness that she beamed as at a compliment. ‘Let the righteous smite me friendly—when I deserve it! You seem to have made a close study of my Sheila. It only remains to secure her services and Mark’s consent⸺’ ‘_Mother!_’ His deep voice called suddenly from the window. ‘I’m ashamed of you. Come in at once!’ ‘Coming!’ she called back, adding under her breath: ‘Keith, remember I only came down for a book. And you found me locking you out.’ Then she hurried away, obedient always to the voice of her son. Nightmares had been effectually dispelled. * * * * *