Dangerous Days

Audrey had found something to do at last. It was Captain Sloane who had

given her the idea.

"You would make a great hit, Audrey," he had said. "It's your voice, you

know. There's something about it--well, you know the effect it always

has on me. No? All right, I'll be good."

But she had carried the idea home with her, and had proceeded, with her

customary decision, to act on it.

Then, one day in May, she was surprised by a visit from Delight

Haverford. She had come home, tired and rather depressed, to find

the Haverford car at the door, and Delight waiting for her in her

sitting-room.

Audrey's acquaintance with Delight had been rather fragmentary, but it

had covered a long stretch of time. So, if she was surprised, it was not

greatly when Delight suddenly kissed her. She saw then that the girl had

brought her some spring flowers, and the little tribute touched her.

"What a nice child you are!" she said, and standing before the mirror

proceeded to take off her hat. Before her she could see the reflection

of Delight's face, and her own tired, slightly haggard eyes.

"And how unutterably old you make me look!" she added, smiling.

"You are too lovely for words, Mrs. Valentine."

Audrey patted her hair into order, and continued her smiling inspection

of the girl's face.

"And now we have exchanged compliments," she said, "we will have some

tea, and then you shall tell me what you are so excited about."

"I am excited; I--"

"Let's have the tea first."

Audrey's housekeeping was still rather casual. Tidiness of Natalie's

meticulous order would always be beyond her, but after certain frantic

searches for what was needed, she made some delicious tea.

"Order was left out of me, somehow," she complained. "Or else things

move about when I'm away. I'm sure it is that, because I certainly never

put the sugar behind my best hat. Now--let's have it."

Delight was only playing with her tea. She flushed delicately, and put

the cup down.

"I was in the crowd this morning," she said.

"In the crowd? Oh, my crowd!"

"Yes."

"I see," said Audrey, thoughtfully. "I make a dreadful speech, you

know."

"I thought you were wonderful. And, when those men promised to enlist, I

cried. I was horribly ashamed. But you were splendid."

"I wonder!" said Audrey, growing grave. Delight was astonished to see

that there were tears in her eyes. "I do it because it is all I can do,

and of course they must go. But some times at night--you see, my dear,

some of them are going to be killed. I am urging them to go, but the

better the day I have had, the less I sleep at night."