It was a peaceful earth, thereabouts falsely peaceful.

An acute ear could easily have detected an angry roar of guns that came ever nearer and nearer, and caught the whisper of a Voice calling and calling.
When Martin returned to the wood-lined sitting room with its large brick chimney, its undergraduate chairs and plain oak furniture, its round thick blue and white mats and disorderly bookcase, Tootles was there, a Tootles with a high chin, a half defiant smile, and honeysuckle at her belt.
"Tootles." "Yes ?" "Have you been alone all the afternoon ?" "Yes." (Fight?
Tooth and nail.) "Except for the flies....

Why, boy ?" "Oh, nothing.

I thought--I mean, I wondered--but it doesn't matter.

By gum, you have made the room look smart, haven't you?
Good old Tootles.
Even a man's room can be made to look like something when a girl takes an interest in it." If she had been a dog she would have wagged her tail and crinkled up her nose and jumped up to put her nozzle against his hand.