“Alas, no, monsieur.”
“Was that why I had not the pleasure of seeing you this morning?”
“Where?”
“Yesterday you filled our tea-kettles.”
“But, monsieur,” she replied primly, “I am not the vivandière of the regiment.”
“That’s a pity,” laughed Doggie.
Then he became aware of the adjacent forms and staring eyes of Phineas and Mo, who for the first time in their military career beheld him on easy terms with a strange and prepossessing young woman. After a second’s thought he came to a diplomatic decision.
“Mademoiselle,” said he, in his best Durdlebury manner, “may I dare to present my two comrades, my best friends in the battalion, Monsieur McPhail, Monsieur Shendish?”
She made them each a little formal bow, and then, somewhat maliciously, addressing McPhail, as the bigger and the elder of the two:
“I don’t yet know the name of your friend.”