Audrey had made a resolution, and with characteristic energy had
proceeded to carry it out. She was no longer needed at the recruiting
stations. After a month's debate the conscription law was about to be
passed, made certain by the frank statement of the British Commission
under Balfour as to the urgency of the need of a vast new army in
France.

For the first time the Allies laid their cards face up on the table, and
America realized to what she was committed. Almost overnight a potential
army of hundreds of thousands was changing to one of millions. The
situation was desperate. Germany had more men than the Allies, and had
vast eastern resources to draw on for still more. To the Allies only the
untapped resources of America remained.

In private conference with the President Mr. Balfour had urged haste,
and yet more haste.

Audrey, reading her newspapers faithfully, felt with her exaltation a
little stirring of regret. Her occupation, such as it was, was gone. For
the thin stream of men flowing toward the recruiting stations there was
now to be a vast movement of the young manhood of the nation. And she
could have no place in it.

Almost immediately she set to work to find herself a new place. At first
there seemed to be none. She went to a hospital, and offered her strong
body and her two willing hands for training.

"I could learn quickly," she pleaded, "and surely there will not be
enough nurses for such an army as we are to have."