I hastily reviewed the situation.  If I salute, I thought, he may think I’m taking a liberty!  I decided miserably to do neither and hoped he would think I had not recognized him at all.[13] As we came abreast I looked straight ahead, getting rather pink the while.  Once past and calling myself all manner of fools, I thought “I’m going to turn round, and stare.  One doesn’t meet a Prince every day, and in any case ’a cat may look at a king!’” I did so—­the Prince was turning round too!  He smiled delightfully, giving me a wonderful salute, which I returned and went on my way joyfully, feeling that it had been left to him to save the situation, and very proud to think I had had a salute all to myself.

Christmas came round before we knew where we were, and Boss gave the order it was to be celebrated in our own mess.  Work was slack just then and Mrs. Williams gave a tea and dance in the afternoon at her canteen up at Fontinettes.  It was a picturesque-looking place with red brick floor, artistic-looking tables with rough logs for legs and a large open fireplace, typically English, which must have rejoiced the hearts of men so far from Blighty.

It was a very jolly show, in spite of my partner bumping his head against the beam every time we went round, and people came from far and near.  It was over about five, and we hastened back to prepare for our Christmas dinner in Mess.

Fancy dress had been decided on, and as it was to be only among ourselves we were given carte blanche as to ideas.  They were of course all kept secret until the last moment.  Baby went as a Magpie and looked very striking, the black and white effect being obtained by draping a white towel straight down one side over the black nether garments belonging to our concert party kit.

I decided to go as a Vie Parisienne cover.  A study in black and daffodil—­a ravishing confection—­and also used part of our “FANTASTIK” kit, but made the bodice out of crinkly yellow paper.  A chrysanthemum of the same shade in my hair, which was skinned back in the latest door-knob fashion, completed the get-up.

Baby and I met on our way across the camp and drifted into mess together, and as we slowly divested ourselves of our grey wolf-coats we were hailed with yells of delight.

Dicky went as Charlie’s Aunt, and Winnie as the irresistible nephew.  Eva was an art student from the Quartier Latin, and Bridget a charming two-year old.  The others came in many and various disguises.

We all helped to clear away in order to dance afterwards, and as I ran into the cook-house with some plates I met the mechanic laden with the tray from his hut.

The momentary glimpse of the Vie Parisienne was almost too much for the good Brown.  I heard a startled “Gor blimee!  Miss” and saw his eyes popping out of his head as he just prevented the tray from eluding his grasp!

Soon after Christmas a grain-ship, while entering Boulogne harbour in a storm, got blown across and firmly fixed between the two jetties, which are not very wide apart.  To make matters worse its back broke and so formed an effectual barrier to the harbour and took from a fortnight to three weeks to clear away.