“Who would look after it?” she asked.
“Oh, they would have their own staff of nurses and doctors,” he said. “I should have to be there as general superintendent-commandant, I think they call it. It will mean giving up my work at the Censor’s office, but that can’t be helped.”
“You would dislike that,” she said. “Your work interests you.”
“Yes, but one has to do what is wanted in these days,” said he.
“I should have thought you could have got some sort of experienced housekeeper. It is more a woman’s work.”
Not until the words were actually spoken, did her mind make any suggestion to her. Then, all at once, that which had been seething and stirring in it all evening took form. The conclusion came suddenly, but it was but the moment of the crystallization of the forces that had been acting there.
“I will undertake it,” she said, “if you think I can manage it.”
He stared at her in blank surprise.
“My dear Helen, it is impossible for you,” he said. “It will mean being down there for weeks together, and giving your whole time to it. You would have no time to yourself at all. Besides, I know how you shun anything connected with the war. There it would be forced on your attention all day long.”
“I realize that,” she said.