DODD.  Oh, I don’t know.  Funny thing; but all through this fortnight
I’ve been absolutely certain that I was not for it.

LANCE-CORPORAL.  Beg pardon, sir, we noticed that, sir!

WHISTON.  Well, it’s practically over now.

DODD.  I’m not so sure.  I’m not in a funk, you know.  It’s simply that I don’t feel so sure.

WHISTON.  Oh, rot, sir!  I don’t believe in that sort of presentiment.

DODD.  What do you think, Corporal?

LANCE-CORPORAL.  I think you goes when your time comes, sir.  But it won’t come to-night, sir.  Not after all we been through this spell, and the spell just finished.

DODD.  I believe you’re right, Corporal.  We shall go when our time comes, and not before.  I like that idea, you know.  It means one hasn’t got to worry.

WHISTON.  If it means that you go on as you’ve done the last fortnight, it’s a damnable doctrine, sir.  You’ve no business to go taking unnecessary risks simply because you’ve got bitten by Mohammedanism.

DODD (thoughtfully).  You’re right, too, Whiston.  “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”  One shouldn’t take unnecessary risks.  Mind you, I don’t admit that I have.  It just enables one to do one’s job with a quiet mind, that’s all.

TWO DAYS LATER

    SCENE. A billet. HANCOCK and SMITH.

HANCOCK.  Damn!

SMITH.  What’s up?  Aren’t you satisfied?  The brigade’s bound to go back and re-form now, and that means that we shan’t be in the trenches for a couple of months at least.  We may even go where there’s a pretty girl or two.  My word!

HANCOCK.  Damnation!

SMITH (genuinely astonished).  What the hell’s wrong?  Any one would think you liked the trenches!  Personally, I don’t care if I never see them again.  England’s full of nice young, bright young things crying to get out.  Let ’em all come!  They can have my job and welcome!

HANCOCK (to himself).  God!  Why Dodd and Whiston?  Why, why, why?  Why not me?  Why just the fellows we can’t afford to lose?

SMITH.  Oh, for God’s sake stow it!  What the hell’s the good of going on like that?  Of course I’m sorry for them and all that.  But I don’t see that it’s going to help them to make oneself miserable about it.

HANCOCK (fiercely).  Sorry for them!  It’s not them I’m sorry for!  They ... they’re the lucky ones!  God!  I suppose that’s the answer!  They’d earned it!

SMITH (satirically).  Have you turned pi?  We shall have you saying the prayers that you learnt at your mother’s knee next, I suppose!  I shall have to tell the Padre, and he’ll preach a sermon about it!  I should never have thought you would have been frightened into religion!

HANCOCK.  Frightened!  You little swine! You talk about being frightened after last night!  I tell you I’d rather be lying out there with Dodd and Whiston than be sitting here with you.  Frightened into religion!