Only, for Heaven's sake, don't go and get ill on the quiet! If you begin to feel queer, send for the doctor at the outset!" He abandoned his attitude of disapproval towards Merryon after that interview, realizing possibly its injustice.

He even declared in a letter to his wife that Mrs.Merryon was an engaging chit, with a will of her own that threatened to rule them all! Mrs.Davenant pursed her lips somewhat over the assertion, and remarked that Major Merryon's wife was plainly more at home with men than women.

Captain Silvester was so openly out of temper over her absence that it was evident she had been "leading him on with utter heartlessness," and now, it seemed, she meant to have the whole mess at her beck and call.
As a matter of fact, Puck saw much more of the mess than she desired.

It became the fashion among the younger officers to drop into the Merryons' bungalow at the end of the evening.

Amusements were scarce, and Puck was a vigorous antidote to boredom.