738	A MODERN COMEDY
" This canteen-
She flung off her shawl.
" I'm enjoying it frightfully."
Soames noted with surprise the rise and fall of her
breast, as if she had been running. Her cheeks, too, were
very pink.
" You haven't caught anything, have you—in that
place ? "
Fleur laughed.    A sound—delicious and unwarranted.
" How funny you are, Dad !     I hope the strike lasts I "
" Don't be foolish ! " said Soames.    " Where's Michael ?'
" Gone up. He called for me, after the House. Nothing
doing there, he says."
" What's the time ? "
" Past twelve, dear. You must have had a real good
sleep."
" Just nodding."
" We saw a tank pass, on the Embankment—going East.
It looked awfully queer. Didn't you hear it ? "
" No," said Soames.
" Well, don't be alarmed if you hear another. They're
on their way to the docks, Michael says."
" Glad to hear it—shows the Government means business.
But you must go up. You're over-tired."
She gazed at him over the Spanish shawl on her arm—
whistling some tune.
" Good-night! " he said. " I shall be coming up in a
minute."
She blew him a kiss, twirled round, and went.
" I don't like it," murmured Soames to himself; " I
don't know why, but I don't like it."
She had looked too young. Had the strike gone to her
head ? He rose to squirt some soda-water into a glass—
that nap had left a taste in his mouth.