And then I'm not sure that the second shock wasn't worse than the first. Colonel Butler! Phyllida's soldier-hero, driving a cab! He had won a Military Cross and a D.S.O.--with a bar, I believe; he had always seemed a manly, straightforward young fellow--and here he was driving a cab! "This--_this_--" I felt myself apostrophizing Phyllida, Brackenbury, that poor fool Ruth--"this is what I've saved you from." ... And then one had a certain revulsion of feeling: the pity of it! ... And then stark horror! If Phyllida met him! Not _then_; I knew she was at a dance with Will and would not be back for hours, but at any moment when I was not there to protect her from herself. I recalled her dreadful threat that, if she saw or heard of Hilary Butler, she would fling herself into his arms and beg him to marry her... "But--of course I remember you," I said. He smiled--without embarrassment of any kind--and walked up the steps with me. "Have you a key?," he asked, "or shall I ring?" He _spoke_ so nicely... If you like, just a touch of what I think must be West Country; but, when things were at their worst and I felt that we had to be prepared for anything, it was a slight consolation to know that he could easily have it drilled out of him... I could have done the same for Ruth twenty-three years ago, but she seemed to pride herself on her provincialism. Now I wonder what you would have done... When Phyllida was nursing him at the hospital--or just afterwards--, he was _always_ in Mount Street, lunching, dining; before they took to going about by themselves _quite_ so much, we had all been to the play, he had seen us home--just like this--and asked me--just like this--whether I had my key or whether he should ring... There was no one at home; even Arthur was in the country. I felt I _couldn't_ suddenly freeze... "I have my key, thanks," I said. "Won't you come in for a moment?" He stopped his engine and came in... Now, I wonder what you would have done, if you'd been in _his_ place? ... He took off coat and gloves (he was wearing quite a presentable blue suit underneath), and I led the way into the morning-room, where I offered him cigarettes and something to drink ... wondering the whole time, don't you know, why one had _done_ it and how long he would stay... _With_ the coat and cap he seemed to divest himself of what I can only call the professional manner; asked me if I wouldn't have a little of my own brandy, commented on some new curtains I'd bought when we did up the house after Hilda Culroyd's illness. _Absolutely_ at home... "How is Phyllida?," he asked. "My niece is very well, thank you," I answered, hardly caring--at that moment--to notice the familiarity. "And what have _you_ been doing with yourself since last we met?," I made haste to ask. "Oh, as you see," he said, "I've turned taxi-man. Owner-driver. One in action, four in support and nine training."