"You always had a bad memory for certain things, Mr. Barcroft," the girl laughingly reminded him. "I felt almost positive it was you directly you spoke. You see, the uniform and you have a most characteristic helped me, manner of speaking." "Have I?" asked Billy, still mystified. "And you have a good memory, I presume?" "Fairly reliable," admitted the girl. "Then let us hope that your recollections of me are of a favourable character," continued the flight-sub. "Now, tell me; what is your name?" "There is no immediate hurry for that," she protested. "Before I reveal my identity suppose I remind you of some of your girl friends at Alderdene--Ada Forrester, for instance." Yes, Billy remembered Ada Forrester very well--a short, podgy kid, he reflected, who by no possible chance could have developed into the tall, graceful girl by his side. "And Betty Deringhame," continued his inquisitor. "One of the noble army of flappers. Rather a shallow-headed kid and a bit of a tomboy, wasn't she?" "A tomboy--yes," agreed the flight-sub, "but I cannot admit the other. We used to be good pals, but that was three years ago. I was in my Third Term at Dartmouth when her people left Alderdene." "You taught her to signal in Morse, I think," pursued the girl. "You used to exchange messages until that little pig, Pat o'Hara, the vicar's son, learnt it too and told tales to her mother." They walked in silence for some moments. Barcroft had almost forgotten his surroundings. His thoughts had taken him back to those far off, pre-war days in sunny Kent. "Yes," he said at length in his deep manly voice. "It is absolutely great to be with Betty Deringhame again." "So you've guessed at last," said Betty. "It's a strange world, isn't it?" "And a mighty pleasant one, barring the Huns and others of that crowd," added Billy. "Now, tell me, what are you doing here?" "Walking with an old acquaintance upon a long road that leads to Two Elms and Tarleigh." "Obvious--we will not dispute the fact," rejoined the young officer. "To put the question in more exact terms: where are you living, and what brought you to this part of England?" "I think I said I was living at Two Elms. To be more precise, at Mill View. That doesn't sound particularly cheerful, does it? We came here to live after we left Alderdene, shortly after war broke out. I am now employed in a munitions works." "Munitions works! Whatever are you doing that for?" asked Billy surprised beyond measure. It seemed incredible that the slim, light-hearted girl of his boyhood days should be toiling in this manner. "Because I had to do something," replied Betty simply. "We lost almost everything. Besides, it was an opportunity to do something practical for the war. People of all social grades do, you know." "I'm sorry about your financial misfortune," said Barcroft sympathetically. "And so am I--very," added the girl frankly. "But it is unnecessary to enter into details. This is my home."