"The test has come," retorted the other savagely, "And we have seen."
The Colonel walked swiftly away. In front of him half a mile from the flag-staff, he marked a man standing waist-deep in a clump of gorse. There was something so forlorn about the figure that the Colonel approached, only to find that it was Ernie, who on his side, seeing the other, quitted the ambush, and came slowly towards him. To the Colonel the action seemed a cry of distress. All his resentment at the incident on the bus melted away in a great compassion.
"She and me used to lay there week-ends when first we married," Ern said dreamily, nodding towards the gorse he had just left.
"And she and you will live there for many happy years, I hope," replied the Colonel warmly, pointing towards the garage in the coombe beneath them.
Ernie regarded him inquiringly.
"What's that, sir?"
"Aren't you coming?"
"Where to?"
"My garage?"
Ernie did not understand and the Colonel explained.