as had rather a thin time and she's going to have a thinner. She never
gets a look in. Make it as far as possible her show, and I'll do what
you like.' What do you think of that?"

"I think it's very characteristic," said I.

And it was. In my mental survey of the situation from Boyce's point of
view I had not taken into account the best and finest in the man. His
reason rang true against my exceptional knowledge of him. I had worked
myself into so sympathetic a comprehension that I KNEW he would be
facing something unknown and terrible in the proposed ceremony; I KNEW
that for his own sake he would have unequivocably declined. But, ad
najorem matris gloriam, he assented.

The main question, at any rate, was settled. The hero would accept the
honour. It was for the Committee to make the necessary arrangements. We
corresponded far and wide in order to obtain municipal precedents. We
had interviews with the military and railway authorities. We were in
constant communication with the local Volunteer Training Corps; with
the Godbury Volunteers and the Godbury School O.T.C., who both desired
to take a part in the great event. In compliance with the conditions
imposed, we gave as much publicity as we could to Mrs. Boyce.
Lieutenant Colonel Boyce, V.C., and Mrs. Boyce were officially
associated in the programme of the reception. How to disentangle them
afterwards, when the presentation of the address, engrossed on velluni
and enclosed in a casket, should be made to the Colonel, was the
subject of heated and confused discussion. Then the feminine elements
in town and county desired to rally to the side of Mrs. Boyce. The Red
Cross and Volunteer Aid Detachment Nurses claimed representation. So
did the munitions workers of Godbury. The Countess of Laleham, the wife
of the Lord Lieutenant of the County, a most imposing and masterful
woman, signified (in genteel though incisive language) her intention to
take a leading part in the proceedings and to bring along her husband,
apparently as an unofficial ornament. This, of course, upset our plans,
which had all to be reconsidered from the beginning.

"Who is giving the reception?" cried Lady Fenimore, who could stand
upon her dignity as well as anybody. "The County or Wellingsford? I
presume it's Wellingsford, and, so long as I am Mayoress, that dreadful
Laleham woman will have to take a back seat."

So, you see, we had our hands full.

All this time I found Betty curiously elus