st the women, there's the women against the soldiers, there's the
Peace Party, there's 'orses against croolty, there's a Cabinet Minister
every now an' then; and now we've got these Conchies. And, mind you,
they haven't raised our pay; no war wages in the police. So far as I can
see, there's only one good result of the war--the burglaries are off.
But there again, you wait a bit and see if we don't have a prize crop of
'm, or my name's not 'Arris."

"You must have an awfully exciting life!" said Noel.

The policeman looked down at her sideways, without lowering his face, as
only a policeman can, and said indulgently:

"We're used to it, you see; there's no excitement in what you're used
to. They find that in the trenches, I'm told. Take our seamen--there's
lots of 'em been blown up over and over again, and there they go and
sign on again next day. That's where the Germans make their mistake!
England in war-time! I think a lot, you know, on my go; you can't
'elp it--the mind will work--an' the more I think, the more I see the
fightin' spirit in the people. We don't make a fuss about it like Bill
Kaser. But you watch a little shopman, one o' those fellows who's
had his house bombed; you watch the way he looks at the mess--sort of
disgusted. You watch his face, and you see he's got his teeth into it.
You watch one of our Tommies on 'is crutches, with the sweat pourin' off
his forehead an' 'is eyes all strainy, stumpin' along--that gives you
an idea! I pity these Peace fellows, reely I pity them; they don't know
what they're up against. I expect there's times when you wish you was a
man, don't you, miss? I'm sure there's times when I feel I'd like to
go in the trenches. That's the worst o' my job; you can't be a human
bein'--not in the full sense of the word. You mustn't let your passions
rise, you mustn't drink, you mustn't talk; it's a narrow walk o' life.
Well, here you are, miss; your Square's the next turnin' to the right.
Good night and thank you for your conversation."

Noel held out her hand. "Good night!" she said.

The policeman took her hand with a queer, flattered embarrassment.

"Good night, miss," he said again. "I see you've got a trouble; and I'm
sure I hope it'll turn out for the best."

Noel gave his huge hand a squeeze; her eyes had filled with tears, and
she turned quickly up towards the Square, where a dark figure was coming
towards her, in whom she recognised her father. His face was worn and
ha