Man and Maid

"That is what I want your advice about, a novel?--or a study upon

Altruism, or--or--something like that?"

She chuckled and handed me my tea, thin tea and a tiny slice of black

bread, and a scrape of butter. There is no cheating of the regulations

here, but the Sevres cup gave me satisfaction.

"You have brought me your bread coupon, I hope?" she interrupted

with,--"if you eat without it one of my household has less!"

I produced it.

"Two days old will do here," then she became all interest in my project

again and chuckled anew.

"Not a novel my son, at your age and with your temperament, it would

arouse emotions in you if you created them in your characters, you are

better without them.--No!--Something serious; Altruism as well as

another, by all means!"

"I expected you to say that, you are always so practical and kind, then

we will choose a research subject to keep me busy."

"Why not the history of Blankshire, your old county where the Thormondes

have sat since the conquest--hein?"

This delighted me, but I saw the impossibility. "I cannot get at the

necessary reference books, and it is impossible to receive anything from

England."

She realized this before I spoke.

"No--philosophy it must be--or your pet hobby, the furniture of your

William and Mary!"

This seemed the best of all, and I decided in a moment. This shall be my

subject. I really know something of William and Mary furniture! So we

settled it. Then she became reflective.

"The news is très grave to-day, my son," she whispered softly, "the

fearful ones predict that the Boche will be within range in a few

days.--Why not leave Paris?"

"Are you going, Duchesse?"

"I,--Mon Dieu!--Of course not!--I must stay to get my Blessés

out--if the worst should come--but I never believe it.--Let the cowards

flee--. Some of my relatives have gone again. Those I speak to will have

become a minority when peace arrives, it would seem!"--then she frowned

angrily. "Many are so splendid--devoted, untiring, but there are

some--!--Mon Dieu! the girls play tennis at the tix aux

pigeons!--and the Germans are sixty-five kilometers from Paris!"

I did not speak, and then, as though I had said something disparaging

and she must defend them--"But you must not judge them hardly--No!--it

is not possible with our National temperament that young girls of the

world can nurse men--No--No--and our ministry of War won't employ

women--what can they do--ask yourself, what can they do?--but wait and

pray! Other nations must not judge us--our men know what they want of

us--yes, yes--"