Sir Piers looked very much distressed, and his white head began to shake. He had only heard part of Lesbia's discourse. Trevellyan's boyishly fair face flushed scarlet. He had fought in Belgium, and in Flanders, until a bullet lodged in his knee, and now his next Medical Board might send him to France to rejoin his regiment. But it would have occurred to no one to suppose that the poignant description quoted by Mrs. Willoughby had ever emanated from Trevellyan. From the head of the table Joanna Vivian said smoothly: "You've made us all very curious as to your work, Lesbia. Do tell us what you do." Mrs. Willoughby gave her high, strident laugh. "Everything," was her modest claim. "Absolutely everything, my dear. Packing for prisoners three mornings a week, canteen work twice, and every Flag-day going. I can't tell you the _hours_ I've stood outside Claridge's carrying a tray and seeing insolent wretches walk past me without buying. I've been _so_ exhausted by the end of the day I've had to have an hour's massage before I could _drag_ myself out to patronize some Red Cross entertainment. But, of course, my real work is the Colonial officers. Dear, sweet things! I take them _all_ over London!" "By Jove, though, do you really!" said Trevellyan admiringly. Only a certain naïve quality of sincerity in his simplicities, Joanna reflected, saved Johnnie from appearing absolutely stupid. But, her husband excepted, she was secretly fonder and more proud of Johnnie than of any one in the world, and she did not make the mistake of supposing that his easy chivalry denoted any admiration for the screeching monologue of which Lesbia was delivering herself. "I make a specialty of South Africans," she proclaimed to the table. "They're so delightfully rural--even more so than the dear Australians, though I have a passion for Anzacs. But I take _some_ of them _some_where every day--just show them London, you know. Not one of them knows a soul in England, and of course London is a perfect marvel to them. I simply live in taxis, rushing the dear things round." "Ah, we had a couple of Canadians here last week--very fine fellows," said Sir Piers. "Been in hospital in Questerham, both of them, and Char thought they'd enjoy a day out in the country. She manages everything, you know--even the hospitals. The doctors all come to her for everything, I believe. She tells me that all the hospitals round about are affiliated to her office." "Ranks as a sort of Universal Provider--what?" said Trevellyan. "Yes; isn't it wonderful?" said Miss Bruce eagerly; and availed herself to the full of the double opportunity for obeying, even at the eleventh hour, Lady Vivian's injunctions as to the trend of the conversation, and at the same time making the utmost of her favourite topic, Char Vivian's work at the Midland Supply Depôt. For the rest of dinner, in spite of several strenuous efforts from Lesbia Willoughby, nothing else was discussed. III