Olive.  Isn’t it a funny mist-all flat!

Katherine.  Now, come along, frog!

Olive. [Making time] Mummy, when is Uncle Hubert coming back?

Katherine.  We don’t know, dear.

Olive.  I suppose Auntie Helen’ll stay with us till he does.

Katherine.  Yes.

Olive.  That’s something, isn’t it?

Katherine. [Picking her up] Now then!

Olive. [Deliciously limp] Had I better put in the duty to your neighbour if there isn’t a victory soon? [As they pass through the door] You’re tickling under my knee! [Little gurgles of pleasure follow.  Then silence.  Then a drowsy voice] I must keep awake for Daddy.

Katherine comes back.  She is about to leave the door a little open, when she hears a knock on the other door.  It is opened a few inches, and nurse’s voice says:  “Can I come in, Ma’am?” The Nurse comes in.

Katherine. [Shutting OLIVE’s door, and going up to her] What is it,
Nurse?

Nurse. [Speaking in a low voice] I’ve been meaning to—­I’ll never do it in the daytime.  I’m giving you notice.

Katherine.  Nurse!  You too!

     She looks towards olive’s room with dismay.  The Nurse smudges a
     slow tear away from her cheek.

Nurse.  I want to go right away at once.

Katherine.  Leave Olive!  That is the sins of the fathers with a vengeance.

Nurse.  I’ve had another letter from my son.  No, Miss Katherine, while the master goes on upholdin’ these murderin’ outlandish creatures, I can’t live in this house, not now he’s coming back.

Katherine.  But, Nurse——!

Nurse.  It’s not like them [With an ineffable gesture] downstairs, because I’m frightened of the mob, or of the window’s bein’ broke again, or mind what the boys in the street say.  I should think not—­ no!  It’s my heart.  I’m sore night and day thinkin’ of my son, and him lying out there at night without a rag of dry clothing, and water that the bullocks won’t drink, and maggots in the meat; and every day one of his friends laid out stark and cold, and one day—­’imself perhaps.  If anything were to ’appen to him.  I’d never forgive meself—­here.  Ah!  Miss Katherine, I wonder how you bear it—­bad news comin’ every day—­And Sir John’s face so sad—­And all the time the master speaking against us, as it might be Jonah ’imself.

Katherine.  But, Nurse, how can you leave us, you?

Nurse. [Smudging at her cheeks] There’s that tells me it’s encouragin’ something to happen, if I stay here; and Mr. More coming back to-night.  You can’t serve God and Mammon, the Bible says.

Katherine.  Don’t you know what it’s costing him?

Nurse.  Ah!  Cost him his seat, and his reputation; and more than that it’ll cost him, to go against the country.