Evening star., 1940-08-25


asunder by wolves
Miss Laura Credit was proud girl. She
had always had to manage for herself. Her
robust independence had frightened away the
one or two men who had considered offering
to do it for her Soon they weakened and
dropped away convinced she would manage
better than they could. Miss Credit thought
so. too.
She had a shrewd idea that Jan Cornforth
the billetng officer. thought her selfish. There
was little smile on his face and twinkle in
his eye when she told him what she had done
You know how to manage, don't you?" said
JAM He was a tall, lean man with pleasant
thick hair. going gray behind the ears. He had
been successful lawyer until i'll health drove
him away from London and an Office life
I'D be up gum tree if ] didn't" said
Laura Standing beside him in her corduroy
slacks. with her short hair curling about her
ears. she might have been his brother Yet
oddly enough. to Jan Comforth there was
always something little touching about
Laura. He felt she would secretly be afraid
of burglars. but would never say so.
She boasted little now to Jan. She
couldn't help it. 1t was such a marvellous
arrangement. They would have, between
them, three maids; for the Wampoles were
bringing two and she had her treasure, Mile
1t would be company. better than eating your
butter ration all alone.
The evenings are a little lonely some
times" Laura admitted. Jan grinned,
That's the first time I've ever known you
to admit to being human, Laura"
II don't mind being alone" she said
quickly There is always book"
He grinned. his hands sunk deep in his
pockets mo good asking you to help at the
canteen?" he said If there was sarcasm in
his voice it was lost on her She shook her
head
No I'm frightfully busy just now. No one
can do two Jobs and do them WE'LL
lHE WAMPOLEs arrived on a Monday
They came in large red car. 1t was packed
with cushions, crates, boxes of stores, boxes of
wine, boxes of fruit. A moment of panic
seized Laura. She had thought of guests.
This was more of a removal.
Her face fell little when she saw the two
maids They had alighted from the car, and
stood beside it. Like Tweedledum and
Tweedledee, and almost as resolved to fight
a battle How do you dc" said Lady Wam-
pole. Perhaps you will show the maids the
way to the kitchens. She looked frost -nipped
and blue in the late-wnter afternoon. Oh
dear have | done right. thought Laura.
No good bringing that up now.
Laura felt dashed. The welcome she had
prepared died on her lips She refused to
admit she was shaken. Poor old things, she
thought, they are tired, the lot of them, after
long drive. She thought quickly of Mrs.
Bolingbroke, whose three refugees proved to
be entirely unhouse trained. She thought of
Allison Maltravers, who had two school
teachers who behaved as if the house was
theirs, and Allison a tedious intruder.
The two maids followed Laura down the
tagged path. One of them said acidly, What
a picnic. Surely, thought Laura, they will
cheer up when they see the kitchen. The steel
pans cleaned on the wall. The chromium
taps glistened. The stainless steel sink and
new scientific cooker was marvel.
It's very small, said Tweedledum
It's very dingy," said Tweedledee.
1t certainly looked small with both of them
$3.50