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."