ness.

I tried to take an interest in everything she said, only it seemed such
aeons away. As though I were talking in a dream.

She would go plodding on at her war job when she got back again, of
course, but she, like everyone else, is war weary.

"And when peace comes--it will soon come now probably--what then?"

"I believe I shall marry again."

I jumped--I had never contemplated the possibility of Nina marrying, she
has always been a widowed institution, with her nice little house in
Queen Street, and that wonderful cook.

"What on earth for?"

"I want the companionship and devotion of one man."

"Anyone in view?"

"Yes--one or two--they say there is a shortage of men, I have never
known so many men in my life."

Then presently, when she had finished her tea, she said--

"You are absolutely out of gear, Nicholas--Your voice is rasping, your
remarks are bitter, and you must be awfully unhappy, poor boy."

I told her that I was--there was no use in lying.

"Everything is finished," I said, and she bent down and kissed me as she
said good-bye--a mother's kiss.

* * * * *

And now I am alone, and what shall I do all the evening? or all the
other evenings--? I will send for Suzette to dine.

* * * * *

_Night_--Suzette--was amusing--. I told her at once I did not require
her to be affectionate.

"You can have an evening's rest from blandishments, Suzette."

"_Merci!_"--and then she stretched herself, kicked up her little feet,
in their short-vamped, podgy little shoes, with four-inch heels, and lit
a cigarette.

"Life is hard, _Mon ami_"--she told me--"And now that the English are
here, it is difficult to keep from falling in love."

For a minute I thought she was going to insinuate that I had aroused her
reflection--I warmed--but no--She had taken me seriously when I told her
I required no blandishments.

That ugly little twinge came to me again.

"You like the English?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"They are very _bons garcons_, they are clean, and they are fine men,
they have sentiment, too--Yes, it is difficult not to feel," she sighed.

"What do you do when you fall in love then, Suzette?"

"_Mon ami_, I immediately go for a fortnight to the sea--one is lost if
one falls in love _dans le metier_--The man tramples then--tramples and
slips off--For everything good one must never feel."

"But you have a kind heart Suzette--you feel