WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR
edge of weeping from the soup down, kissed Scott and William, and they drank one whole bottle of champagne, hot, because there was no ice, and Scott and William sat outside the tent in the starlight till Mrs. Jim drove them in for fear of more fever.
Apropos of these things and some others William said: "Being engaged is abominable, because, you see, one has no official position. We must be thankful we 've lots of things to do."
"Things to do!" said Jim, when that was reported to him. "They 're neither of them any good any more. I can't get five hours' work a day out of Scott. He 's in the clouds half the time."
"Oh, but they 're so beautiful to watch, Jimmy. It will break my heart when they go. Can't you do anything for him?"
"I 've given the Government the impression—at least, I hope I have— that he personally conducted the entire famine. But all he wants is to get on to the Luni Canal Works, and William 's just as bad. Have you ever heard 'em talking of barrage and aprons and waste-water? It 's their style of spooning, I suppose."
Mrs. Jim smiled tenderly. "Ah, that 's in the intervals—bless 'em."
And so Love ran about the camp unrebuked in broad daylight, while men picked up the pieces and put them neatly away of the Famine in the Eight Districts.
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Morning brought the penetrating chill of the Northern December, the layers of wood-smoke, the dusty grey-blue of the tamarisks, the domes of ruined tombs, and
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