Driss paused to allow the others to be sufficiently impressed by the fact that the Sub in such circumstances had been quite civil. “So I told him I should have to go up on deck and get my trunk down. ‘What do you want?’ he said. ‘Pyjamas? Come in here and choose a pair of mine. Blue silk or white silk? They are rather attractive, don’t you think?’” “He lent you some?” “So might dozens of Subs!” Cunwell exclaimed scornfully. “Yes,” said Driss eagerly, “so they might; but not in that way. I swear he treated me as--as, an ordinary human being in a country house might treat another ordinary human being who was short of a pair of pyjamas. None of the being-generous-to-junior-snotties touch. You wouldn’t have thought there was such a thing as seniority. I believe he must come from the South of Ireland--though I’ve never heard the name there,” he added solemnly. “That sounds promising,” Hugh said. “I wonder.... Oh, wouldn’t it be great, Driss, if Hartington were like that all through!” “I believe he will be,” Driss answered. “I’m almost sure he will be. He didn’t even give me the pyjamas and have done with it. We talked for quite a long time--about where we should put his photographs, and pictures, and writing-desk--he has an old writing-desk that he’s very keen on, and an odd taste in pictures. And we talked about other things as well, all off the ordinary track, just as if there wasn’t any Service at all.” But even then they could not believe that nothing aggressive lay beneath this apparently pleasing exterior. Driss, who had seen and heard, found it impossible to carry conviction in face of the others’ deep-rooted scepticism. The next day routine was irregular. Hartington went ashore soon after breakfast and did not return until the dog watches, when he took over the duties of the officer who had been keeping the Day On with John as his midshipman. “Have you been keeping watch all day?” Hartington asked. “Yes, sir, on and off. I’ve been below a good deal when there was nothing doing on deck.” “Tired?” “No, not very; I’d much rather keep Days On than the regular four-hour watches.” “Is anyone coming up to take over from you?” “I don’t think so.” “Well, you may as well go below. I’ll look out up here. I’ll send down a side-boy if I want you.” In the Gunroom John found everyone busy appropriating lockers and bringing in their books and papers from their chests. “There’s enough room for two lockers each, and three for Hartington,” Dyce said. “Those are your two, Lynwood, in the corner--the worst billet of the lot.... No, we didn’t just push you into them because you were away. We cut round--someone cut for you--and you were lurked.” “I don’t mind,” John said. “Two lockers anywhere are luxury. I’ll get my books in. By the way, Driss, I think you were right about Hartington. He took over the watch just now; asked if I was tired, and sent me down.”