"Pretty fair, sir," answered Ernie. "Home on long leave, sir?"
"Yes, six months. I'm going to work for the Staff College."
"All well with the Regiment when you left, sir?"
"Yes, thanks. All merry and bright. We won the Polo Cup. Mr. Ffloukes—you remember him in D Company—got himself mauled by a bear in the hills. Silly young feller. Quite unnecessary, I thought.... The Colonel's retired and come home. Living somewhere in these parts, I believe."
The lift stopped at the Third Floor.
Ernie carried the Captain's suit-case to his room.
"I'll bring your heavy luggage myself, sir," he said, for he had quite taken the other under his wing.
As he left the room he met Ruth.
Ernie beckoned her mysteriously.
"That's my old skipper," he whispered. "You look after him now. He's just all right."