They had left late spring at home, but found approaching winter on their arrival in the southern hemisphere. Their heavy coats were in order on all excursions outdoors.
“Funny, but I had the idea we’d have to go round out here half dressed, drinking ices and waving fans,” said Mabel.
“Tommy prepared me for this,” said Nancy a little wistfully. “He left home last fall and found spring when he got here. Strange, but he seems so much closer now that I’m here.”
“Gee, Nancy, wouldn’t it be wonderful if he did turn up!”
“Oh, he must! He will, Mabel! Yet sometimes I think it’s sort of selfish of me to—to think he may be spared when such terrible things have happened to other people.”
“I guess it’s natural for us all to have such feelings—that these horrible things can’t happen to us.”
“I suppose we’ll have to get into the thick of it before we fully realize how terrible it really is,” said Nancy, sensing that their first real tests were not far off.
That evening after dinner Lieutenant Hauser called them together and said, “We’ll have several days here in Sydney. We don’t know exactly how long before we’ll be moved out to an evacuation hospital. You’ve all earned a little vacation. Take this time to see the city and enjoy yourselves to the full. Our real work is not far in the future.”
Eyes sparkled, while happy laughter and comments filled the room.
“The only restrictions,” continued Lieutenant Hauser, “are to guard your tongue and be back in your rooms by eleven at night. The Red Cross volunteers have planned many things for you, but you’re free to do as you like. Have a good time, for you’ll need pleasant memories when you get into the thick of things.”