served: "You were saying some days ago that you
would like to see some officers' letters from the Front.
That being so, I have brought part of a letter from
Mr. Jervis Blake to show you. There is nothing in it
concerning food or kit, but still it is very long, and
shows that the young man is a good fellow. If you
are busy, however, it may not be worth your while to
look at it now."

Alfred Head stopped in what he was doing. "Could
you leave it with me?" he asked.

Anna shook her head. "No, that I cannot do. My
young lady left it for me to read, and though she said
she would not be back till eight, she might run in any
moment, for she is only over at Robey's, helping with
the hospital. They are expecting some wounded tomorrow.
They have waited long enough, poor ladies!"

The old woman was standing just under the electric
light; there was an anxious, embarrassed look on her
face.

The man opposite to her hesitated a moment, then
he said quickly, "Very well, show it me! It will not
take a moment. I will tell you at once if it is of any
use. Perhaps it will be."

She fumbled a moment in her inside pocket, and
brought out Jervis Blake's letter.

He took up the sheets, and put them close to his
prominent eyes. Quickly he glanced through the account
of the German prisoners, and then he began to
read more slowly. "Wait you here one moment," he
said at last. "I will go and tell my visitor that I am
engaged for another minute or two. Then I will
come back to you, and read the letter through properly,
though the writer is but a silly fellow!"

[[230]]

p229 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p230w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p231

v?