“God help me, if you are, for I love you. And I want you to be careful. Don’t run any risks. I’d rather have the whole shipyard smashed than your little finger.”
“Thanks, but if I could swap my life for one ship it would be the best bargain I ever bought. Good-by.”
As she ran back to her post Davidge smiled at the womanishness of her gait, and thought of Joan of Arc, never so lovably feminine as in her armor.
CHAPTER V
Days of harrowing restiveness followed, Mamise starting at every word spoken to her, leaping to her feet at every step that passed her cottage, springing from her sleep with a cry, “Who’s there!” at every breeze that fumbled a shutter.
But nothing happened; nobody came for her.
The afternoon of the Liberty Loan drive was declared a half-holiday. The guards were doubled at the gates, and watchmen moved among the crowds; but strangers were admitted if they looked plausible, and several motor-loads of them rolled in. Some of them carried bundles of circulars and posters and application blanks. Some of them were of foreign aspect, since a large number of the workmen had to be addressed in other languages than English.