"Yes, dear, thank you."
"Oh, Mrs. Potter, have you actually got some ammonia in that water? I wish you'd let me do my brushes with yours."
"Of course, Miss Marsh. There's plenty of room."
"Well, good-night, girls," from Miss Delmege. "It may seem strange to you, me going to bed before ten o'clock, but it's the life. One gets tired, somehow."
"Good-nights" resounded, and one door banged after another.
There was splashing in the bathroom for a little while, and then silence.
Char realized with dismay that she had no hot water, and that the brass kettle on her washing-stand was empty. After reflection, she filled it from the jug, and decided that she must go to the bathroom where the gas-ring was.
She would not have been averse to being seen by her mother just then. War-work under these conditions could not be mistaken for anything but the grim reality that it was.
Lady Vivian, however, not being present, Char performed her domestic labours unobserved, and went shivering to her bed.
She wondered if any one would call her in the morning. This, however, proved not to be necessary.