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It lasted with no abateraciousness, murmured names "Mrs Rankin--" Mrs Rankin nodded insolently and turned away "Miss Bartru the shadow of grave eyebrows over sweet eyes "Dr Donald McClane--" As he bowed the Commandant's stare arched up at them, then dropped, suddenly innocent, suddenly indifferent

They looked around Madaone Nobody ether in the middle of the room The McClane Corps had spread itself over all the chairs and benches, in obstinate possession They passed out through the open French s on to the balcony

It looked south over the railway towards the country where they thought the fighting must be They could see the lines where the troop trains ran, going northwest and southeast, and the railway station and post office all in one long red-brick building that had a flat roof with a crenellated parapet Grass grew on the roof And beyond the black railway lines reen fields, rows of poplars standing up in theht; little woods; here and there a low rise bristling and dark with trees The fighting must be over there Under the balcony the white street ran southeastward, and scouting cars and a that way

While they talked they re his hands; they heard his brief laugh that had no aot in first"

When they came back into the room they found the tables drawn apart with a wide space between The Belgian orderlies were re under the Commandant's directions a separate mess By tea-time two chauffeurs had added themselves to the McClane Corps

Twelve to four And they would have to live together nobody kne long: as long as the war lasted

That evening, in the bedroom that John shared with Sutton, they sat on two beds, discussing their prospects Gwinnie was voluble

"They've driven us out of our messroom with their beastliness We shall have to sit in our bedrooms all the time"

"We'd better let the office knoe're here," said Sutton, "in case we're sent for"

"Anyhow," said Charlotte, "I', dejected s to send us out first"