But I can't help it; they won't pass me to go up, and it's no use growling down here because of it." "I suppose not," said Peter, and leaned back reflecting for the rest of the way.

He felt as if he had known these men all his days, and as if his London life had been lived on another planet.
After lunch he was given a cubicle, and spent an hour or two getting unpacked.

That done, just as he was about to sit down to a letter, there came a knock at the door, and Mackay looked in.
"You there, padre ?" he asked.

"There's a lorry going up to town that has just brought a batch of men in: would you care to come?
I've got to do some shopping, and we could dine at the club and come back afterwards." Peter jumped up.

"Topping," he said.