About midday
They decided to begin with small seaside places , and gradually , as they gained confidence , attack larger centres . To begin with they selected Littlestone in Kent , chiefly because of its unassuming name . So they planned , and it seemed a small and unimportant thing to them that as they clattered the governments of half the world and more were drifting into war . About midday they became aware of the first of the evening-paper placards shouting to them across the street : -- ----------------------------------------------- THE WAR-CLOUD DARKENS ----------------------------------------------- Nothing else but that . `` Always rottin ' about war now , '' said Bert . `` They 'll get it in the neck in real earnest one of these days , if they ai n't precious careful . '' So you will understand the sudden apparition that surprised rather than delighted the quiet informality of Dymchurch sands .