The car ride was long, and it was late when they reached Esplanade Street. Arobin asked permission to enter for a second to light his cigarette—his match safe was empty.

This is followed by a deluge of rain for an hour or two. Dews are very copious,– fogs little known. The climate is very salubrious.

War is a racket. It always has been. It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious. It is the only one international in scope. It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives... Of course, it isn't put that crudely in war time. It is dressed into speeches about patriotism, love of country, and we must all put our shoulders to the wheel, but the profits jump and leap and skyrocket—and are safely pocketed.

Margaret and Eric, the brother and sister who moved out of our house really landed with their bum in the butter. They were fostered out to a family that had a car which meant they were rich, as only rich people had cars.