George saluted according to the Major's own doctrine, and departed. At Battery Headquarters he met Captain Resmith.
"How did you get on with Auntie?" asked Resmith in his loud, firm voice.
George winked.
Resmith gave a scarcely perceptible smile.
"Look here," he said. "I'm just going round the horse-lines. If you'll come with me I'll show you a thing or two, and we can choose a mount for you. Then after dinner if you like I'll take you through the orders for to-morrow. By the way, there's a telegram for you."
The telegram read:
"Girl. Everything fairly satisfactory. Don't worry too much. Laurencine sleeps here.—NUNKS"
The telegram was entirely characteristic of his stepfather—curt, exact, realistic, kind.
He thought:
"Three girls, by Jove!"