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little face, with its determined chin and large, wide-apart grey eyes that looked
mistily out from under straight, black brows. She wore a small bright green toque
over her black bobbed hair, and her extremely short and rather shabby skirt
revealed a pair of uncommonly dainty ankles. Her appearance presented a valiant
attempt at smartness.
The tea came at last, and Tuppence, rousing herself from a fit of meditation,
poured it out.
"Now then," said Tommy, taking a large bite of bun, "let's get up-to-date.
Remember, I haven't seen you since that time in hospital in 1916."
"Very well." Tuppence helped herself liberally to buttered toast. "Abridged
biography of Miss Prudence Cowley, fifth daughter of Archdeacon Cowley of Little
Missendell, Suffolk. Miss Cowley left the delights (and drudgeries) of her home life
early in the war and came up to London, where she entered an officers' hospital.
First month: Washed up six hundred and forty-eight plates every day. Second
month: Promoted to drying aforesaid plates. Third month: Promoted to peeling
potatoes. Fourth month: Promoted to cutting bread and butter. Fifth month:
Promoted one floor up to duties of wardmaid with mop and pail. Sixth month:
Promoted to waiting at table. Seventh month: Pleasing appearance and nice
manners so striking that am promoted to waiting on the Sisters! Eighth month:
Slight check in career. Sister Bond ate Sister Westhaven's egg! Grand row!
Wardmaid clearly to blame! Inattention in such important matters cannot be too
highly censured. Mop and pail again! How are the mighty fallen! Ninth month:
Promoted to sweeping out wards, where I found a friend of my childhood in
Lieutenant Thomas Beresford (bow, Tommy!), whom I had not seen for five long
years. The meeting was affecting! Tenth month: Reproved by matron for visiting
the pictures in company with one of the patients, namely: the aforementioned
Lieutenant Thomas Beresford. Eleventh and twelfth months: Parlourmaid duties
resumed with entire success. At the end of the year left hospital in a blaze of
glory. After that, the talented Miss Cowley drove successively a trade delivery van,
a motor-lorry and a general! The last was the pleasantest. He was quite a young
general!"
"
What brighter was that?" inquired Tommy. "Perfectly sickening the way those
brass hats drove from the War Office to the Savoy, and from the Savoy to the War
Office!"
"
I've forgotten his name now," confessed Tuppence. "To resume, that was in a way
the apex of my career. I next entered a Government office. We had several very
enjoyable tea parties. I had intended to become a land girl, a postwoman, and a
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