"Good-morning, Miss Vivian," she said gaily. "Nice to see you back again. I hope you've quite got over the influenza?"
"Thank you," said Char icily. "Please take down a letter to the O.C. London General Hospital."
She dictated rapidly, but Miss Collins's shorthand was never at a loss, and at the end of forty minutes she still appeared tireless and quite unruffled.
"That will do, for the moment."
Miss Collins uncrossed her knees, and looked up.
"I shall be wanting ten days' leave, Miss Vivian," was her unprecedented remark.
The scratching of Miss Delmege's pen paused for a moment, and, although she did not turn round, a tremor agitated her neat, erect back.
Char looked at her unabashed typist.
"There will be no Christmas leave," she said curtly, taking the resolution on the instant.
"I expect I shall want it before Christmas—about the end of this week. The fact is—"