'Does Miss Farrell ever do any real nursing?' she asked abruptly.
Captain Marsworth's look became, in a moment, reserved and cold. 'She's always ready to do anything for any of us!'
Then the speaker rose. 'I see Sir William's preparing to take your sister into the gardens. You certainly ought to see them. They're very famous.'
The party streamed out into the paths leading through a wood, and past a series of water-lily pools to the walled gardens. Sir William walked in front with Nelly.
'My brother's new craze!' said Cicely in the ear of the General beside her, who being of heroic proportions had to stoop some way to hear the remark. He followed the direction of her eyes.
'What, that little woman? A vision! Is it only looks, or is there something besides?'
'I don't know. I haven't found out. The sister's plain, disagreeable, stupid.'
'Doesn't that show she's stupid? Nobody ought to look clever. Do you admire Mrs. Sarratt?'
'Can one help it? Or are you going also to maintain,' laughed the general, 'that no one can be beautiful who looks it?'
'One _could_ maintain it--easily. The best kind of beauty has always to be discovered. What do you think, Captain Marsworth?'
She turned--provokingly--to the soldier on her left hand.
'About beauty?' He looked up listlessly. 'I've no idea. The day's too hot.'
'You're tired!' she said peremptorily. 'You've been doing too much. You ought to go and rest.'
He smiled, and standing back he let them pass him. Turning into a side path he disappeared towards the hospital.
'Poor old fellow!--he still looks very delicate,' said the General. 'How is he really getting on?'
'The arm's improving. He's having massage and electricity. Sometimes he seems perfectly well,' said Cicely. An oddly defiant note had crept into the last sentence.
'He looks down--out of spirits. Didn't he lose nearly all his friends at Neuve Chapelle?'
'And half the battalion! He always cared enormously about his men. He and I, you know, fought in South Africa together. Of course then he was just a young subaltern. He's a splendid chap! I'm afraid he won't get to the front again. But of course they'll find him something at home. He ought to marry--get a wife to look after him. By the way, somebody told me there was some talk about him and the daughter of the rector here. A nice little girl. Do you know her?'