I introduced him to Peter and he promptly forgot Mary’s existence.  If Peter had had any vanity in him it would have been flattered by the frank interest and admiration in the boy’s eyes.  ’I’m tremendously glad to see you safe back, sir.  I’ve always hoped I might have a chance of meeting you.  We want you badly now on the front.  Lensch is gettin’ a bit uppish.’

Then his eye fell on Peter’s withered leg and he saw that he had blundered.  He blushed scarlet and looked his apologies.  But they weren’t needed, for it cheered Peter to meet someone who talked of the possibility of his fighting again.  Soon the two were deep in technicalities, the appalling technicalities of the airman.  It was no good listening to their talk, for you could make nothing of it, but it was bracing up Peter like wine.  Archie gave him a minute description of Lensch’s latest doings and his new methods.  He, too, had heard the rumour that Peter had mentioned to me at St Anton, of a new Boche plane, with mighty engines and stumpy wings cunningly cambered, which was a devil to climb; but no specimens had yet appeared over the line.  They talked of Bali, and Rhys Davids, and Bishop, and McCudden, and all the heroes who had won their spurs since the Somme, and of the new British makes, most of which Peter had never seen and had to have explained to him.

Outside a haze had drawn over the meadows with the twilight.  I pointed it out to Blenkiron.

’There’s the fog that’s doing us.  This March weather is just like October, mist morning and evening.  I wish to Heaven we could have some good old drenching spring rain.’

Archie was discoursing of the Shark-Gladas machine.

’I’ve always stuck to it, for it’s a marvel in its way, but it has my heart fairly broke.  The General here knows its little tricks.  Don’t you, sir?  Whenever things get really excitin’, the engine’s apt to quit work and take a rest.’

‘The whole make should be publicly burned,’ I said, with gloomy recollections.

‘I wouldn’t go so far, sir.  The old Gladas has surprisin’ merits.  On her day there’s nothing like her for pace and climbing-power, and she steers as sweet as a racin’ cutter.  The trouble about her is she’s too complicated.  She’s like some breeds of car—­you want to be a mechanical genius to understand her . . .  If they’d only get her a little simpler and safer, there wouldn’t be her match in the field.  I’m about the only man that has patience with her and knows her merits, but she’s often been nearly the death of me.  All the same, if I were in for a big fight against some fellow like Lensch, where it was neck or nothing, I’m hanged if I wouldn’t pick the Gladas.’

Archie laughed apologetically.  ’The subject is banned for me in our mess.  I’m the old thing’s only champion, and she’s like a mare I used to hunt that loved me so much she was always tryin’ to chew the arm off me.  But I wish I could get her a fair trial from one of the big pilots.  I’m only in the second class myself after all.’