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off the trawlers all about it, the ones what picked the people up out of the water.”
    He said: “I knew you were a spy right from the first. The next thing is, I threaten to denounce you to the police unless you let me have my way with you.”
    She said: “If you’re going to talk like that, I’m going home.”
    He said penitently: “I’m sorry. I was only going by the books.”
    “Well, don’t be so awful.”
    “Did you hear all that we were saying?”
    She said: “Not all of it, because of turning round to get the things from the shelves. But you’d be surprised if you knew what we got to know behind the bar.”
    He nodded, serious for a moment. When old friends in the service meet for a short drink and a meal, not all the posters in the world will stop a few discreet exchanges on the subject of their work. Leaning upon the bar, they say these things in low tones to each other, so low that nobody can hear except the barmaid at their elbow.
    He said: “Let’s go and dance again.”
    They went out for a waltz. He was not a bad dancer,and like most girls of her class she was very good. They were together well by this time, and went drifting round the floor weaving in and out of the crowd in a slow, graceful rhythm. A faint fragrance came up from her hair into his face; he was quite suddenly immensely moved.
    He said: “You’ve done something to your hair.”
    She laughed. “I had it washed.” She paused and then said: “Do you like it?”
    “Smells all right.”
    “You do say horrid things. I never met a boy that said such horrid things as you.”
    He squeezed her as they danced. “It’s the stern brake I have to keep upon myself. If I told you what I really thought about you you’d slap my face and go home.”
    She laughed up at him. “I’ll slap it now just for luck.”
    “Then I’ll have you arrested. You can’t do that to an officer in war-time. It’s high treason.”
    Presently they went and sat down again for a time. He lit a cigarette for her, and said:
    “What else did you do today besides getting your hair washed?”
    “Did the shopping for Mother before going to the snack-bar. We open at twelve-thirty, you know. Then in the afternoon I had my hair done and went home for tea.”
    “And back to work again.”
    “That’s right. What did you do?”
    He considered. “Did a spot of flying. Just scraped clear of a blazing row.”
    “What about?”
    “Only something to do with the work. Then I worked on the galleon for a bit.”
    “How big is it?”
    He showed her with his hands. “About like that.”
    “What are you going to call it when it’s done?”
    “Mona.”
    She was pleased. “You do talk soft—really you do. What else did you do after that?”
    “After that? I—oh, my God, yes—I came into Southsea and bought a rabbit.”
    She stared at him in amazement. “A rabbit? Whatever are you going to do with that?” And then she said: “You’re just kidding again.”
    “You hurt me very much when you say that.” He turned and rummaged in the pocket of his long blue overcoat. “You don’t deserve to see it.”
    He pulled out the carton. She bent across the table curiously, her head very close to his. He opened it and took out the lamp, clicked the switch, and the rabbit glowed with light.
    She breathed: “Isn’t it lovely! Wherever did you get it from?”
    He told her. “I went in there to get a lipstick and saw it on the counter.”
    “A lipstick?”
    “I’ve got it on now.” He took the mirror from her bag and looked at himself. “I think it’s rather becoming.”
    “You are the silliest thing ever. You don’t use lipstick.”
    “That’s all you know. They told me it was kissproof in the shop. Do you mind if I try and see?”
    “Yes, I do.”
    They went and danced again. The dance was coming to an end; the quick-step accelerated to a wild gallop round the floor. Then the music stopped, the band stood up, the men drew stiffly to attention and the girls