“It wasn’t—­it was you, Teanie.”

“Oh, well, one of us, anyway, in her ward when she was on night duty, sitting with a poor chap who pegged out a few days after.  It soothed him to sit and hold her hand.  Well, anyway, she was furious and reported it.  There was a bit of a row—­had to be, I suppose, as it was against regulations—­but thank God the P.M.O. knew his job, so there was only a strafe with the tongue in the cheek.  However, we swore revenge, and we had it—­eh, Julie?”

“We did.  Go on.  It was you who thought of it.”

“Well, we filled a bath with tepid water and then went to her room one night.  She was asleep, and never heard us.  We had a towel round her head in two twinks, and carried her by the legs and arms to the bathroom.  Julie had her legs, and held ’em well up, so that down went her head under water.  She couldn’t yell then.  When we let her up, I douched her with cold water, and then we bolted.  We saw to it that there wasn’t a towel in the bathroom, and we locked her bedroom door.  Oh, lor’, poor soul, but it was funny!  She met an orderly in the corridor, and he nearly had a fit, and I don’t wonder, for her wet nightie clung to her figure like a skin.  She had to try half a dozen rooms before she got anyone to help her, and then, when she got back, we’d ragged her room to blazes.  She never said a word, and left soon after.  Ever hear of her again, Julie?”

“No,” said she, looking more innocent than ever, Peter thought; “but I expect she’s made good somewhere.  She must have had something in her or she’d have kicked up a row.”

Miss Melville was laughing silently.  “You innocent babe unborn,” she said; “never shall I forget how you held....”

“Come on, Captain Graham,” said Julie, getting up; “you’ve got to see me home, and I want a nice walk by the sea-front.”

They went out together, and stood at the hotel door in the little street.  There was a bit of a moon, with clouds scurrying by, and when it shone the road was damp and glistening in the moonlight.  “What a heavenly night!” said Julie.  “Come on with us along the sea-front, Teanie—­do!”

Miss Melville smiled up at them.  “I reckon you’d prefer to be alone,” she said.

Peter glanced at Julie, and then protested.  “No,” he said; “do come on,” and Julie rewarded him with a smile.

So they set out together.  On the front the wind was higher, lashing the waves, and the moonlight shone fitfully on the distant cliffs, the harbour mouth, and the sea.  The two girls clung together, and as Peter walked by Julie she took his arm.  Conversation was difficult as they battled their way along the promenade.  There was hardly a soul about, and Peter felt the night to fit his mood.

They went up once and down again, and at the Casino grounds Teanie stopped them. “’Nough,” she said; “I’m for home and bed.  You two dears can finish up without me.”

“Oh, we must see you home,” said Peter.