As Peter sat in his car at the Harfleur terminus that Thursday it must be confessed that he was largely indifferent to the beauties of the Seine Valley that he had professedly come to see.  He was nervous, to begin with, lest he should be recognised by anyone, and he was in one of his troubled moods.  But he had not long to wait.  The tram came out, and he threw away his cigarette and walked to meet the passengers.

Julie looked very smart in the grey with its touch of scarlet, but she was discontented with it.  “If only I could put on a few glad rags,” she said as she climbed into the car, “this would be perfect.  You men can’t know how a girl comes to hate uniform.  It’s not bad occasionally, but if you have to wear it always it spoils chances.  But I’ve got my new shoes and silk stockings on,” she added, sticking out a neat ankle, “and my skirt is not vastly long, is it?  Besides, underneath, if it’s any consolation to you, I’ve really pretty things.  Uniform or not, I see no reason why one should not feel joyful next the skin.  What do you think?”

Peter agreed heartily, and tucked a rug round her.  “There’s the more need for this, then,” he said.

“Oh, I don’t know:  silk always makes me feel so comfortable that I can’t be cold.  Isn’t it a heavenly day?  We are lucky, you know; it might have been beastly.  Lor’, but I’m going to enjoy myself to-day, my dear!  I warn you.  I’ve got to forget how Tommy looked when I put her off with excuses.  I felt positively mean.”

“What did she say?” asked Peter.

“That she didn’t mind at all, as she had got to write letters,” said Julie, “Solomon, Tommy’s a damned good sort!...  Give us a cigarette, and don’t look blue.  We’re right out of town.”

Peter got out his case.  “Don’t call me Solomon to-day,” he said.

Julie threw herself back in her corner and shrieked with laughter.  The French chauffeur glanced round and grimaced appreciatively, and Peter felt a fool.  “What am I to call you, then?” she demanded.  “You are a funny old thing, and now you look more of a Solomon than ever.”

“Call me Peter,” he said.

She looked at him, her eyes sparkling with amusement.  “I’m really beginning to enjoy myself,” she said.  “But, look here, you mustn’t begin like this.  How in the world do you think we shall end up if you do?  You’ll have nothing left to say, and I shall be worn to a rag and a temper warding off your sentimentality.”

“Julie,” said Peter, “are you ever serious?  I can’t help it, you know, I suppose because I am a parson, though I am such a rotten one.”

“Who says you’re a rotten one?”

“Everybody who tells the truth, and, besides, I know it.  I feel an absolute stummer when I go around the wards.  I never can say a word to the men.”

“They like you awfully.  You know little Jimmy, that kiddie who came in the other day who’s always such a brick?  Well, last night I went and sat with him a bit because he was in such pain.  I told him where I was going to-day as a secret.  What do you think he said about you?”