After a stint in France with her fawning admirer, "Potty" Perowne, Sylvia reunites with Christopher, though their relationship remains turbulent. Under his stringent terms of reconciliation, Christopher insists they move out of their large town home, and into a flat opposite Macmaster. After war is declared, Christopher is ordered to massage military numbers at the Dept. of Statistics. Outraged at being asked to lie, he quits his job and enlists in the army, much to the dismay of Sylvia and Valentine.