looked still more puzzled.

Then from the far corner of the room came a pleasant voice.

"I think _brioche_ is the word you want." It was. I recollected it
directly I heard it. I turned to thank our interpreter. She was a young
woman in the uniform of a V.A.D. She was sitting at a table by herself,
was, in fact, the only other occupant of the room. I thanked her.
Thompson joined in and thanked her effusively. There was not much light
in the room and her corner was decidedly gloomy. Still, it was possible
to see that she was a decidedly pretty girl. We both said that if there
was anything we could do for her we should be very pleased to do it
After the way she helped us out with the _brioche_ we could scarcely say
less.

"Perhaps," she said, "you may be able to tell me when I will be able to
get a train to----?"

She mentioned one of those towns of which the English have taken
temporary possession, turning the hotels into hospitals, to the great
profit of the original proprietors.

"Certainly," said Thompson. "There's a train at 9 p.m. But you'll be
travelling all night in that. If I were you I'd stay here till to-morrow
morning and then----"

"Can't," said the girl. "Properly speaking I'm due back to-day; but I
missed the early train this morning and only got here an hour ago. The
boat was horribly late."

"Ah," said Thompson, "you're coming back after leave, I suppose."

The girl sighed faintly.

"Yes." she said, "but I've had a fortnight's leave; I can't complain."

"I'll just write down that train for you," said Thompson.

He scribbled 9 p.m. on a piece of paper and carried it over to the girl.
It seemed to me an unnecessary thing to do. Nine is a simple number,
easy to remember. Some thought of the same kind occurred to the girl.
She looked at Thompson, first with some surprise, and then, I thought,
rather coldly. She was evidently not inclined to accept any further
friendly offers from Thompson. He did not seem in the least abashed even
when she turned her shoulder to us and looked the other way.

"Have you seen the cathedral here?" said Thompson.

The girl made no answer.

"I really think," said Thompson, "that you ought to pay a visit to the
cathedral. You'll like it, you really will. And you've got hours before
you. I don't see how you can fill in the time if you don't go to the
cathedral."

"Thank you," said the girl without turning round.

"I'm not going there," said Thompson, "or I'd offer