“Military regulations must be obeyed, Miss Nora,” Captain Griffiths ventured thoughtfully.
“Nothing so important as hats,” Harrison put in. “You see they fit—somebody.”
The girl's gesture was irreverent but convincing. “I'd listen to anything Captain Griffiths had to say,” she declared, “but you boys who are learning to be soldiers are simply eaten up with conceit. There's nothing in your textbook about hats. If you're going to make yourselves disagreeable about this, I shall simply ignore the regiment.”
The two young men fell into attitudes of mock dismay. Nora took a chocolate from a box.
“Be merciful, Miss Nora!” Harrison pleaded tearfully.
“Don't break the regiment up altogether,” Somerfield begged, with a little catch in his voice.
“All very well for you two to be funny,” Nora went on, revisiting the chocolate box, “but you've heard about the Seaforths coming, haven't you? I adore kilts, and so does Helen; don't you, Helen?”
“Every woman does,” Helen admitted, smiling. “I suppose the child really can keep the hat, can't she?” she added, turning to the Commandant.
“Officially the matter is outside my cognizance,” he declared. “I shall have nothing to say.”
The two young men exchanged glances.