the pencilled
postcards which they had written in the train. The writing of many
post-cards seemed to afford them great comfort. While Margaret was
filling cups as fast as she could, she was often interrupted by men who
would hold out a penny and ask if she kept postage-stamps. Stamps were
the only things which were not given away in the free refreshment-room;
a copper always went into the little red box when a stamp was taken
out. The men were eager to get them.

Another voice would ask for a time-table, and another would inquire if
she sold pipes; he had lost his in the train and he dreaded the twelve
hours' journey which lay before him without the comfort of even his
pipe.

All these demands had to be attended to quickly and sympathetically.
The twenty minutes which the first batch of men had to spend in the
station was almost up. On record nights the canteen had served three
hundred men in half an hour. Margaret felt rather than knew that
Michael was still in the room, that he was standing behind the first
line of men, looking at her. Her heart was throbbing and her mind
distracted. How could she reach him? How could she learn where he was
going to?

His eyes had told her nothing; they had simply gazed into hers as
though he had seen a vision. Of the surprise and relief which hers had
afforded him she knew nothing. In the midst of the hurly-burly of
hungry, tired soldiers she had met his eyes--that was all. She had
scarcely seen his figure.

The place was emptying. Michael, having stayed to the very last
second, turned and quickly left the room. Soon there would be a lull,
but Margaret could not wait for it. She put down her can as Michael
disappeared and moved down the counter to its exit, a little door which
opened inwards and allowed her to pass into the room. To reach it she
had to brush past her aunt. As she did so, she said as calmly as she
could:

"I must fly out to the platform for a few minutes, aunt, even if these
men go without their tea--I really must go and speak to a soldier I
know."

Her aunt looked at her in astonishment. This new emotional Margaret
was so very unlike the reliable V.A.D., whose dignity was one of her
individual charms.

"Very well, my dear, I can manage. Go along."

There was no time for more words--indeed, Margaret did not wait to be
allowed. She darted out of the refreshment-room like an arrow freed
from the bow. She had but one idea, to follow Mic