“A couple o’ sports,” the policeman murmured again.

“I think you’re the couple of sports,” I said laughing.

“Well,” said the stop-watch man, lifting his cap, “we won’t keep you any longer, Miss, a pleasant afternoon to you, and (with a knowing look) there’s nothing on the road from here to Cobham!”

Of course the Morgan broke all records after that!

Unfortunately, in July, I was obliged to undergo an operation on my right foot, where it had been injured.  By great good luck it was arranged to be done in the sister’s sick ward at the hospital.  It was not successful though, and at the end of August a second was performed, bringing the total up to six, by which time I loathed chloroform more than anything else on earth.

Before I returned to the convent again, the King and Queen with Princess
Mary came down to inspect the hospital.

It was an imposing picture.  The sisters and nurses in their white caps and aprons lined the steps of the old red-brick, Georgian House, while on the lawn six to seven hundred limbless Tommies were grouped, forming a wonderful picture in their hospital blue against the green.

I was placed with the officers under the beautiful cedar trees and had a splendid view, while on the left the different limb makers had models of their legs and arms.  The King and Queen were immensely interested and watched several demonstrations, after which they came and shook each one of us by hand, speaking a few words.  I was immensely struck by the King’s voice and its deep resonant qualities.  It is wonderful, in view of the many thousands he interviews, that to each individual he gives the impression of a real personal interest.

I soon returned to the convent, and there in the beautiful gardens diligently practised walking with the help of two sticks.  The joy of being able to get about again was such that I could have wept.  The Tommies at the hospital took a tremendous interest in my progress.  “Which one is it?” they would call as I went there each morning.  “Pick it up, Miss, pick it up!” (one trails it at first).  The fitter was a man of most wonderful patience and absolutely untiring in his efforts to do any little thing to ease the fitting.  I often wonder he did not brain his more fussy patients with their wooden legs and have done with it!

“Got your knee, Miss?” the men would call sometimes.  “You’re lucky.”  When I saw men who had lost an arm and sometimes both legs, from above the knee too, I realised just how lucky I was.  They were all so splendidly cheerful.  I knew too well from my own experience what they must have gone through; and again I could only pray that something good would come out of all this untold suffering, and that these men would not be forgotten by a grateful country when peace reigned once more.

I often watched them playing bowls on the lawn with a marvellous dexterity—­a one-armed man holding the chair steady for a double amputation while the latter took his aim.