r all, "that I have experienced occasions when
it was a relief to do considerable banging."

"Don't you think that is a kind of swearing, Susan? What is the
difference between slamming a door viciously and saying d----"

"Miss Oliver dear," interrupted Susan, desperately determined to save
Gertrude from herself, if human power could do it, "you are all tired
out and unstrung--and no wonder, teaching those obstreperous youngsters
all day and coming home to bad war news. But just you go upstairs and
lie down and I will bring you up a cup of hot tea and a bite of toast
and very soon you will not want to slam doors or swear."

"Susan, you're a good soul--a very pearl of Susans! But, Susan, it
would be such a relief--to say just one soft, low, little tiny d---"

"I will bring you a hot-water bottle for the soles of your feet, also,"
interposed Susan resolutely, "and it would not be any relief to say
that word you are thinking of, Miss Oliver, and that you may tie to."

"Well, I'll try the hot-water bottle first," said Miss Oliver,
repenting herself on teasing Susan and vanishing upstairs, to Susan's
intense relief. Susan shook her head ominously as she filled the
hot-water bottle. The war was certainly relaxing the standards of
behaviour woefully. Here was Miss Oliver admittedly on the point of
profanity.

"We must draw the blood from her brain," said Susan, "and if this
bottle is not effective I will see what can be done with a mustard
plaster."

Gertrude rallied and carried on. Lord Kitchener went to Greece, whereat
Susan foretold that Constantine would soon experience a change of
heart. Lloyd George began to heckle the Allies regarding equipment and
guns and Susan said you would hear more of Lloyd George yet. The
gallant Anzacs withdrew from Gallipoli and Susan approved the step,
with reservations. The siege of Kut-El-Amara began and Susan pored over
maps of Mesopotamia and abused the Turks. Henry Ford started for Europe
and Susan flayed him with sarcasm. Sir John French was superseded by
Sir Douglas Haig and Susan dubiously opined that it was poor policy to
swap horses crossing a stream, "though, to be sure, Haig was a good
name and French had a foreign sound, say what you might." Not a move on
the great chess-board of king or bishop or pawn escaped Susan, who had
once read only Glen St. Mary notes. "There was a time," she said
sorrowfully, "when I did not care what happened outside of P.E. Island,
and now a king