Bourne showed no curiosity concerning the business
which had broughtthem into Noeux-les-Mines.
That would give an accidental colour to the
incident. What he needed was to go on a bigdrunk somewhere, and break this bloody
monotony. Yes, sir, he said, amazed, but with the mechanical obediencerequired of
him.
Yes; Fritz is mighty carelesswhere he drops a
dixie.
They had a good lot ofofficers on the whole. What
did they think about it in th orderly-room? He had in his pocketa small tin of
toffee which had come in a parcel from England. Yes; Fritz is mighty carelesswhere
he drops a dixie. Youre a bit of an artist with the paintbrush, Hemmings, hesaid, to
cover up his thought.
E dont drink, an e dont smoke, an unless e goes
after thewomen I dont know what e does do. Its a long time since I ad any decent
toffee, he said, witha curious hunger in his black eyes. This should have been
donequite privately.
You havent got the moral courage to stand up for
your own men,or to admit your silly blunder. I dont want to go into any back
parlours for the sake of somecognac in my coffee. You drink the champagne, if you
like it, saidBourne, sending the girl away with the order. Corporal
Reynoldsimpatiently waved Bourne out of the room again.
You had better bring your pack here after dinner,
andgo straight away.
Then Captain Maletarrived on the scene, quite ready
to fight anything and principlebe damned.
I shall order my horse, and take two orderlies and
goup to inspect trenches. He had to look ahead, andeither of them would manage a
fiver for him. Bournes first instinct was to rush out and tryto help.
Then Captain Maletarrived on the scene, quite ready
to fight anything and principlebe damned. Youd better keep one tin osardines, an
take half the cake with you. Youll never come back, said Shem in a matter-of-fact
way. Bourne, you will sleep in the orderly-roomin future.
And richerspilth the pavement stain, that was
pavimentum mero; why didthat come into his head now?
I dont know anything about wine, said Johnson
primly. Yes, sir, he said, amazed, but with the mechanical obediencerequired of
him.
So hesat there quietly smoking, and drinking a
little wine, until it wastime to leave. Ive got a photo of my girl in my
pocketbook.
He wentback to the orderly-room in a mood of
apathy, and copied ordersinto the book.
You will help him carry them in; and I dare say he
willfind you useful while hes there. That would give an accidental colour to the
incident. He felt curiously isolatedeven from them. He wentback to the orderly-room
in a mood of apathy, and copied ordersinto the book.