‘Oh, you’re a blinkin’ ass!’
‘Why?’
‘Adela has just told you not to come to-day, as she is busy with the Anzacs. And yet you talk about trust!’
‘That’s true. Still, on reflection, it would be an impertinence for us to warn all the other fellows off the track. If I’m annoyed, I’m not going to be narrow-minded about it. Besides, I’m not engaged to the girl. I’ve an open mind so far as a mate is concerned. I’m simply looking around, and I won’t endorse your barbarian creeds. Why, Beefy, you’re almost a Hun where the other sex is concerned. Come on, you silly old ass; let’s go and get some fresh air,’
‘All right, John Bunyan,’ mumbled Beefy, shoving on his cap and sauntering out of the camp.
II.
We took a train to the nearest town, a manufacturing place, alive with munition-girls and other war-workers. As we ambled along we had time to observe the manners and methods of the crowd. A healthy Amazon gave us ‘the glad eye.’
‘There, John, didn’t I tell you they’re as primitive as in the Bronze Age?’
‘That’s just the fun of the uneducated. Hang it all! I thought you rather liked that sort of thing.’
‘That’s not the point. What I want to prove is this. You can “pick up” almost every girl in this street. These girls are man-mad.’