Looking back on them afterwards, Peter saw the months that followed as a time of waiting between two periods of stress.

Not, of course, that anyone can ever stand still, for even if one does but sit by a fire and warm one's hands, things happen, and one is imperceptibly led forward.

It was so in this case, but, not unnaturally, Graham hardly noticed in what way his mind was moving.

He had been through a period of storm, and he had to a certain extent emerged from it.

The men he had met, and above all Julie, had been responsible for the opening of his eyes to facts that he had before passed over, and it was entirely to his credit that he would not refuse to accept them and act upon them.