Evening star., 1940-08-25

"oIe, ALMOST necessarily. green CORDUROY
slacks and scarlet jumper - much the most
comfortable kit for working in a garden
When Jan Cornforth. the billeting officer
asked Miss Credit point blank how many
refugee children, or mothers with young
children under five. she was prepared to take
in, Laura nearly passed out Tales had gone
round of bedding that had to be burned. of
valuable antiques broken up for frewood -
She bethought her. then. like an inspiration,
of the Wampoles The Wampoles we're nice
people.
She had met them during the summer. at
a hotel in Weymouth, and thought them a
charming couple DID, of course but then
old people are sweet. And he was such
handsome man. Such courtly manners. He
called you Dear Lady. Laura saw herself
playing daughter to this charming couple;
saw. too. minor sensation at the village
choral concert when she produced Sir Horace
and Lady Wampole
IT ALL fitted in exceently for the Wam-
poles had told her they really did not know
what they would do in crisis. They would
have to give up their London fiat.
But how we shall ever afford to take on
another house. don't ask me. " Lady Wampole
moaned What with taxation and every
thing else, and the high wages servants re-
qure these days"
When she remembered all this, Laura's
bosom was filled with warm. excited feeling.
L.. - ,lo& Ill H. Il
longs to do. She could do kindness which at
the same time would be greatly to her own
advantage and cost her nothing. She took
chance, and told Jan her house was full.
Il have friends Sir Horace and Lady
Wampole. My house has only six rooms.
They will bring two maids with them so you
see -"
Jan Conforth nodded. He said he had had
good many people wriggle out of it, but few
50 cleverly. She wrote that night after much
pencil sucking, making what she thought an
excellent arrangement. The Wampoles could
have the entire cottage, leaving her her own
bed sitting room, which fortunately had
door into the garden.
So we shall not be tumbling over each
other, thought Miss Credit happily, They
would be asked to pay only for the coal and
electricity, giving Miss Credit her share -
also the telephone, allowing her to use it.
and the newly installed cooker Access to
water and cooking accommodation. just like
a real refugee, was all Laura asked
l shall be refugee in my own house,
she thought, amused. Though, of course. the
Wampoles would ask her to meals with them.
In most of the houses the refugees all fed
together. Between friends, whole lot of
lawyers letters and stamped agreements are
hardly necessary. and if you will undertake
to leave the place as you find it. the wood and
coal celler stocked as now. and keep the gar
den tidy it is all will ask" she wrote.
Sir Horace and Lady Wampole wired en-
thusiastic acceptance. Later Sir Horace wrote
a kind letter I'VE are delighted to accept
your offer, and we agree to all your terms
wrote Sir Horace, in flowing generous hand
But it does not seem to me you are getting
much out of this
In war, thought Laura. you didn't want
to make little on the side Something inside
you insisted against that
1t was an excellent arrangement And it
would save her the wear and tear of having
to make huge bonfires of bedding or know