He is certainly much
better behaved in the ambulance than either of the small boys who step
upon our feet, get into fierce fights, and keep up a racket generally.
The mothers have been called upon to settle so many quarrels between
their sons, that the atmosphere in the ambulance has become quite
frigid.
The day we came from the post, while I was grieving for the little
greyhound and many other things I had not been permitted to bring with
me, and the rocking-chair was bruising my ankles, I felt that it was
not dignified in me to submit to the treatment I was being subjected
to, and I decided to rebel. Mrs. Barker and her small son had been
riding on the back seat, and I felt that I was as much entitled to a
seat here as the boy, nevertheless I had been sitting on the seat with
Mrs. Phillips's servant and riding backward. This was the only place
that had been left for me at the post that morning. After thinking it
all over I made up my mind to take the small boy's seat, but just
where he would sit I did not know.
When I returned to the ambulance after the next rest - I was careful to
get there first - I sat down on the back seat and made myself
comfortable, but I must admit that my heart was giving awful thumps,
for Mrs. Barker's sharp tongue and spitfire temper are well known.
