"I think you have more than your share of servants now, Nelly," replied
her mother. "We are really most fortunate, Mr. Johnson, in having our ayah
still with us; so many were deserted by their servants altogether, and she
is an admirable nurse. I do not know what we should do without her, for
the heat and confinement make the poor children sadly fractious. We were
most lucky yesterday, for we managed to secure a dobee for the day, and
you see the result;" and she smilingly indicated the pretty light muslins
in which her daughters were dressed. "You see us quite at our best," she
said, turning to the boys. "But we have, indeed," she went on seriously,
"every reason to be thankful. So far we have not lost any of our party,
and there are few indeed who can say this. These are terrible times, young
gentlemen, and we are all in God's hands. We are exceptionally well off,
but we find our hands full. My eldest daughter has to aid the ayah with
the children; then there is the cooking to be done by me, and the room to
be kept tidy by Edith and Nelly, and there are so many sick and suffering
to be attended to. You will never find us all here before six in the
evening; we are busy all day; but we shall always be glad to see you when
you can spare time for a chat in the evening. All the visitors we receive
are not so welcome, I can assure you;" and she pointed to three holes in
the wall where the enemy's shot had crashed through.

"That is a very noble woman," Mr. Johnson said, as they went out. "She
spends many hours every day down at the military hospital where, the
scenes are dreadful, and where the enemy's shot and shell frequently find
entry, killing alike the wounded and their attendants. The married
daughter looks after her children and the neatness of the rooms. The young
girls are busy all day about the house nursing sick children, and yet, as
you see, all are bright, pleasant, and the picture of neatness, marvelous
contrasts indeed to the disorder and wretchedness prevailing among many,