ustification; but at this the wrath of
Rossiter and the indignation of the W.S.P.U. became so alarming that
the agitated Secretary of State--not at all sure how we were going
to come out of the War--gave way, and an order was signed for
Vivie's release on the 11th of August; on the understanding that she
would immediately proceed abroad; an understanding to which she
would not subscribe but which in her slowly-formed hatred of the
British Government she resolved to carry out.

Mrs. Warren, assured by Praed and Rossiter that Vivie's release was
a mere matter of a few days, had left for Brussels on the 5th of
August. If--as was then hoped--the French and Belgian armies would
suffice to keep the Germans at bay on the frontier of Belgium, she
would prefer to resume her life there in the Villa de Beau-sejour.
If however Belgium was going to be invaded it was better she should
secure her property as far as possible, transfer her funds, and make
her way somehow to a safe part of France. Vivie would join her as
soon as she could leave the prison.

CHAPTER XVI

BRUSSELS AND THE WAR: 1914

The Lilacs in Victoria Road had been disposed of--through
Honoria--as soon as possible, after the sentence of Three years'
imprisonment had been pronounced on Vivie; and the faithful
Suffragette maid had passed into Honoria's employ at Petworth, a
fact that was not fully understood by Colonel Armstrong until he had
become General Armstrong and perfectly indifferent to the Suffrage
agitation which had by that time attained its end. So when Vivie had
come out of prison and had promised to write to all the wardresses
and to meet them some day on non-professional ground; had found
Rossiter waiting for her in his motor and Honoria in hers; had
thanked them both for their never-to-be-forgotten kindness, and had
insisted on walking away in her rather creased and rumpled clothes
of the previous year with Bertie Adams; she sought the hospitality
of Praddy at Hans Place. The parlour-maid received her sumptuously,
and Praddy's eyes watered with senile tears.

But Vivie would have no melancholy. "Oh Praddy! If you only knew.
It's worth going to prison to know the joy of coming out of it! I'm
so happy at thinking this is my last day in England for ever so
long. When the War is over, I think I shall settle in Switzerland
with mother--or perhaps all three of us--you with us, I mean--in
Italy. We'll only come back here when the Women have got th