Just outside Mrs. Ropes' drive gates there lies a famous and exclusive golf course, and when she turned her house into a Convalescent Home the secretary wrote offering the hospitality of the club to all officers who might come under her care.
Nevertheless, when Haynes and I first arrived, we were both too languid and feeble for any more exacting form of athletics than spillikins and jigsaws, and it was some time before the M.O. gave us permission to go on the links.
"And remember," he added, "gently to begin with. Stop at the thirteenth hole."
"Of course," I said apologetically to Haynes as we neared the club-house, "I was pretty putrid before the War, so I shall be simply indescribable now."
"My dear chap, this isn't going to be a match. Keep your excuses till we play serious golf. To-day's just a gentle knock round. Here we are. I'll go and borrow some clubs; you get a couple of caddies."
Five minutes later he rejoined me, carrying two sets of clubs.
"Hallo!" he remarked in surprise. "I didn't know you'd brought your family. Introduce me."
"Mabel," I said, "and Lucy—our caddies."
"Girls?"