Harcourt burst into shouts of delight. "Can't you see Matt?" he cried hilariously. "Having supper with a massive actress!" He slapped his thighs delightedly. "Matt swilling ginger ale and saying, 'You're 's' dev'lish fine womansh.' ... No, don't start scrapping, Matt; I've just put on a clean collar ... and it's got to last.... All right--_pax_, then." "Well," said Matthews, when peace was restored. "What's everyone else going to do? What are you going to do, Harcourt?" "Me and Mordy are going to attrapay the wily trout," was the reply. "He's going to spend part of the leave with me, and I'm going to spend part with him. We're going to clean out the pond at his place. Topping rag." "And you, Wonk?" "Cricket," was the reply. "And strawberries. Chiefly strawberries." "What about you, Bosh?" "I shall lie in a hammock, and tell lies about the Navy to my sisters a good deal of the time. And when I'm tired of that I shall just lie--in the hammock. Sorry, I didn't mean to be funny----Ow! I swear it was unintentional. Matt, I swear----" The furious jarring of an electric gong somewhere overhead drowned all other sounds. "Boat's called away!" shouted the Senior Midshipman. "Up on deck, everyone. Knock off scrapping, Bosh and Matt, or you'll be all adrift." There was a general scramble for bags and suit-cases, and, burdened with their impedimenta, the Midshipmen made their way up on to the quarterdeck. Thorogood, Officer of the Watch, was walking up and down with an expression of bored resignation to the inevitable. Forward of the after superstructure the liberty-men were falling-in in all the glory of white cap-covers and brand-new suits, carrying little bundles in their hands. There was on each man's countenance that curious blend of solemnity and ecstatic anticipation only to be read in the face of a bluejacket or marine about to start on long leave. A group of officers gathering near the after gangway stood waiting for the boat and exchanging chaff customary to such an occasion. "Here come the Snotties," said the Staff Surgeon. "Lord, I wish I had a gramophone to record their conversation outside my cabin while they were packing." He raised his voice. "Now, then, James, what about this boat? We shall miss the train if you keep us all hanging about here much longer. Some of us have got appointments in town we don't want to miss--haven't we, Matthews?" The Midshipman thus suddenly addressed flushed and was instantly the target for his companions' humour. "That's right, sir," confirmed Lettigne maliciously. "Matthews is taking a real live actress out to supper to-morrow night." "Smoking a mild cigar," added another. "And eating oysters and mushrooms," chimed in a third. Thorogood walked towards the group of laughing, chaffing boys and men. "She won't be long, now," he said. "You'll all catch the train; I can promise you that." He smiled wanly.