ate, where
the captain was waiting for the rest of the picket to arrive, I was
surprised to find my French caller of the morning standing there, with a
pretty blonde girl, whom she introduced as her sister-in-law. She
explained that they had started in the morning, but that their wagon had
been overloaded and broken down and they had had to return, and that her
mother was "glad of it." It was perfectly natural that she should ask me
to ask the "English officer if it was safe to stay." I repeated the
question. He looked down at them, asked if they were friends of mine.
I explained that they were neighbors and acquaintances only.

"Well," he said, "I can only repeat what I said to you this morning--I
think you are safe here. But for God's sake, don't give it to them as
coming from me. I can assure your personal safety, but I cannot take
the whole village on my conscience." I told him that I would not quote
him.

All this time he had been searching in a letter-case, and finally
selected an envelope from which he removed the letter, passing me the
empty cover.

"I want you," he said, "to write me a letter--that address will always
reach me. I shall be anxious to know how you came through, and every
one of these boys will be interested. You have given them the only
happy day they have had since they left home. As for me--if I live--I
shall some time come back to see you. Good-bye and good luck." And he
wheeled his horse and rode up the hill, his boys marching behind him;
and at the turn of the road they all looked back and I waved my hand,
and I don't mind telling you that I nodded to the French girls at the
gate and got into the house as quickly as I could--and wiped my eyes.
Then I cleared up the tea-mess. It was not until the house was in
order again that I put on my glasses and read the envelope that the
captain had given me:--

Capt. T. E. Simpson,
King's Own Yorkshire L. I. VIth Infantry Brigade,
15th Division, British Expeditionary Force.

And I put it carefully away in my address book until the time should
come for me to write and tell "how I came through"; the phrase did
disturb me a little.

I did not eat any supper. Food seemed to be the last thing I wanted. I
sat down in the study to read. It was about eight when I heard the gate
open. Looking out I saw a man in khaki, his gun on his shoulder,
marching up the path. I went to the door.

"Good-evening, ma'am," he said. "All right?"

I a