hung up the receiver and repeated the latter part of the message.

Peter thanked him and departed, walking on air.

A day later an orderly from the group informed him at 11 a.m.that the order had been applied for and might be expected that day, and at 1 o'clock he received it.

Such is the humour of the high gods who control the British Army.

But he never saw Colonel Lear again, and was thankful.
Peter reached his new base, then, early in March in a drizzle of rain.