"Owing to the War," I explained, "there is no very great difficulty in
passing into Woolwich at present, and I hope to get on quickly, and take
my place in the fighting-line before the War is over."
She approved of this.
"Quite right," she said. "I never wanted to be a man before the War,
but I do now."
She spoke in a very martial and sporting way, and rang for tea.
This was good of its kind, and when I had eaten pretty well everything,
after handing her each dish first, she asked me if I would like an egg,
and, of course, I said I would. Then she ordered the old servant to
boil two eggs; and the old servant did so, and I ate them both. We
talked of the War, and, funnily enough, I quite forgot all about the
"Turbot" till a clock chimed on the mantelshelf the hour of five.
This, as it were, reminded me of my mission.
"I must soon go back to the station," I said, "so perhaps you will now
be so kind as to tell me about 'Turbot.'"
"And who is 'Turbot'?" she asked.
So I had to explain that we were all called fish, owing to a silly joke,
and I also hoped that she would not think that I meant anything rude to
her nephew by mentioning him in that way. She was not in the least
annoyed, and said:
"Ralph came to me on Saturday, and he left me on Sunday morning."
"Do you know where he has gone?" I asked.