Peter mumbled something, and went on with his tea towards the corner.  The other’s readiness and effrontery staggered him, but he wasn’t going to give himself away.

“You’re a brute!” said Julie promptly.  “Where have you been?”

“It’s where have you been, you mean,” retorted Peter.  “I thought I was to take you in to tea.  When last I saw you, you had Donovan in tow.”

“And you had Tommy.  Don’t you like her?”

“Awfully,” said Peter; “I think she wants something now.  But do come across to our side.  Aren’t you going soon?”

“Yes, when we can get away.  Remember, everyone is watching.  You go on out, and we can meet you below.”

“Right,” said Peter; “I’ll collect Donovan.”

He found him after a bit, and the two made their adieus and thanks.

As they went down the steps, Jack outlined the campaign.  “I just joked to her about dinner,” he said, “but I think they’ll rise.  If they do, we’ll go to Travalini’s, if they dare.  That girl of yours is up to anything:  she knows a thing or two.  You’ve some nerve, old thing.”

“Nothing to yours,” retorted Graham, still not at all sure of himself.  “But, look here, what about Travalini’s?  I don’t know that I care to go there.”

“Oh, it’s all right, old dear.  You haven’t a vast collar on now, and you ought to see life.  I’ve seen scores of chaplains there, even old Arnold.  I’ll look after your morals.  Come on; let’s get out and across the road.  We shall see them coming down the steps.”

The hospital fronted on to the sea and the promenade that once was so fashionable.  The sun was setting, blood red, over the Channel, the ships at anchor looking dark by contrast.  But there was still plenty of light, and Peter was inwardly conscious of his badges.  Still, he told himself that he was an ass, and the two of them sauntered slowly townwards.

In a few minutes Jack glanced back.  “They’re coming,” he said, and as the girls crossed on to the pavement behind them, turned round.  “Good for you,” he said.  “You got out quicker than I thought you would.  Shall we tram or walk?”

“Walk, I think,” said Julie; “it’s topping here by the sea.  I want to get a pair of shoes, and the shop’s not too far.  Besides, you can buy shoes by artificial light, which won’t do for some things.  Tommy bought a hat the other night, and she nearly had a fit in the morning.  She’s keeping it for the next fancy-dress stunt.”

She ran on, and, despite Peter, Donovan annexed her.  They set off gaily ahead, Julie’s clear laugh coming back now and again.  Peter felt depressed and angry.  He told himself he was being let in for something he did not want, and he had not much to say.  To make conversation, he asked about South Africa.

It appeared the girls came from Natal.  Miss Raynard was enthusiastic, and he gathered they had been trained together in Pietermaritzburg, but lived somewhere on the coast, where there was tennis all the year and moonlight bathing picnics in the season, and excellent river boating.  He could not catch the name, but it was not too far from Durban.  He said, in the end, that he had always wanted to visit South Africa, and should certainly come to Natal....