And there had fallen such long silences.

Until, at last, one cheeky ragamuffin had piped out: "Please, Miss, have you got red hair all over you?
Or only on your head ?" For answer she had rolled up her sleeve, and let them examine her arm.
And then, in her turn, had insisted on rolling up his sleeve, revealing the fact that his arms above the wrists had evidently not too recently been washed; and the episode had ended in laughter and a babel of shrill voices.

And, at once, they were a party of chums, discussing matters together.
They were but children, these tired men and women, just released from their day's toil, hastening homeward to their play, or to their evening tasks.

A little humour, a little understanding, a recognition of the wonderful likeness of us all to one another underneath our outward coverings was all that was needed to break down the barrier, establish comradeship.

She stood aside a moment to watch them streaming by.