The hilarity was general, and the conversation presently became bright and sparkling with humorous anecdotes.
The officers held their audience spellbound with fear and admiration; the women talked hospital and dress, dress and hospital, finally jesting about the latest restrictions. One lady told the story of a friend who engaged a maid, on her looks and without a reference, the which maid shortly became a menace because of her propensity for dropping and breaking china.
One day, drawn towards the pantry by the sound of a noise more terrible than any yet experienced, she found the girl staring at a whole pile of plates—ten or a dozen—which had slipped from her fingers and lay in thousands of pieces on the floor.
The lady became indignant and scolded.
"Ah, if Madame were at the front, she'd see worse than that!" was the consoling response.
"But we're not at the front, I'll have you understand, and what's more neither you nor I have ever been there, my girl."
"I beg Madame's pardon, but my last place was in a hospital at Verdun, as Madame will see when my papers arrive."
General laughter was cut short by the sound of two explosions.
"They're here. They've arrived. It will soon be over now," and like commentaries were added.
A servant popped the cork of a champagne bottle, and another passed cakes and candied fruit.