watering-pot in such a hurry as to spill a tenth or
so of its contents into his shoes; swore under his breath; then
laughed aloud.

"I'll bet any money they'll get upsides with her, all the same.
Lord! there may be fun!"

His wife eyed him as he emptied the watering-pot spasmodically over
the flowers.

"As a rule you have so much more imagination than I. . . . Yet by
fits and starts you take this business as if it were a joke.
And it _is_ War, you know."

The Vicar turned away hurriedly, to fetch more water.

On the Sub-Committee for House to house Visiting--the Relief
Committee, as it came to be called--were elected:

(1) For Polpier--Mrs Polsue, Miss Alma Trudgian (in Mrs Polsue's
words, "a pitiful Ritualist, but well-meaning. _She'll_ give no
trouble"), the Vicar, and Mr Hambly.

(2) For the country side of the parish--Mr and Mrs Best, "with power
to add to their number." On the passing of this addendum, Farmer
Best uttered, apparently from the roof of his palate, a noise not
unlike the throb of the organ under the dome of St Paul's, and the
mysterious words, "Catch me!"

Next was formed a Sub-Committee of Needle-Workers, to make
hospital-shirts, knit socks, &c. It included Miss Charity Oliver;
and Mrs Steele undertook to act as Secretary and send out the
notices.

--Next, a Sub-Committee of Ways and Means, to collect subscriptions,
and also to act as Finance Committee. The Vicar, Mr Best, Mr Hambly,
with Mr Pamphlett for Honorary Treasurer. Mrs Pamphlett (a timid
lady with an irregular catch of the breath), without pledging her
husband, felt sure that under the circumstances he wouldn't mind.
Then Dr Mant unfolded a scheme of Ambulance Classes. He was one of
those careless, indolent men who can spurt invaluably on any business
which is not for their private advantage. (Everybody liked him; but
he was known to neglect his own business deplorably.) He could motor
over to Polpier and lecture every Saturday evening, starting
forthwith. Mrs Steele undertook to write to the Local Education
Authority for permission to use the Council Schoolroom.

At this point the parlour-maid brought in the tea.

"I believe," remarked Miss Oliver pensively, on the return journey,
"I could take quite a liking to that woman if I got to know her."

"She won't give you the chance, then," said Mrs Polsue; "so you
needn't fret."

"No, I suppose not . . . in a fashion. Still"--Miss Oliver
brightened--"she proposed