ngs in a place to be agreed on. This is
just a preliminary talk; and when a dozen people meet to discuss,
it's handier as a rule to have some one in the chair. . . .
You agree? . . . Then for form's sake, I propose that we elect a
chairman."

"And I propose Mrs Steele," added Mr Hambly.

"Seconded," said Farmer Best. "Damn it!"

"William!" his spouse ejaculated. (She knew that he detested Mrs
Polsue, whom he had once described in private as "the p'isenest
'ooman that ever licked verdigris off a farthing.")

"'Tis all right, Chrisjana," he responded in a muffled voice, with
head abased as nearly between his calves as a protuberant stomach
allowed. "But one o' the castors o' this here chair has given way.
. . . Beggin' your pardon, ma'am,"--he raised a face half-apoplectic
but cheerful, and turned it upon his hostess--"but I totalled up
seventeen score when last weighed. There's no damage done that can't
be set right with a screw-driver afore I go." Then, with another
turn-about that embraced the company, "Proposed an' seconded that Mrs
Steele do take the chair. Those in favour say 'Hi!'--the contrary
'No.' . . . The Hi's 'ave it." (Farmer Best was Vice-Chairman of the
Board of Guardians, and knew how to conduct public business.)

Mrs Steele resumed her little speech. A pink spot showed upon either
cheek, but she spoke bravely.

"I suppose the first thing to be done is to see, as tactfully as we
can, that during these first few weeks at any rate the wives and
families of the men who have gone away to fight for us suffer no
want. There are other ways in which we can be useful--And I take it
for granted that all of us women, who cannot fight, are longing to be
useful in some way or other. . . . There is the working of socks,
scarves, waistcoats, for instance; the tearing and rolling of
bandages; and Dr Mant, who has so kindly driven over from St
Martin's, tells me that he is ready to be kinder still and teach an
Ambulance Class. . . . But our first business--as he and Mr Hambly
agree--is to make sure that the wives and children of our reservists
want neither food nor money to pay their rent. . . . They tell me
that in a few weeks the Soldiers' and Sailors' Families Association
will be ready to take much of this work off our hands, though acting
through local distributors. Indeed, the Vicar--indeed, my husband
has already received a letter from the District Secretary of the
Association asking him to under