that he is endowed by the fates with a very bad temper and a most vile tongue; that he is inconsiderate of his inferiors wherever his personal whims and ambitions are concerned; and that he is engrossed with an inordinate desire to be in the good graces of the Brigadier-General, who is really, I believe, a very good sort.  Apart from those failings, some of which are, perhaps, excusable, I think he is probably all right.  You may be sure that his unpopularity will not prejudice me against him; I shall not join in the general condemnation unless and until he gives me good reason.  As yet I have no such reason.  Up to now his personality is merely a source of curiosity and amusement.

“During the course of the morning’s training, Captain Andrews rearranged the composition of the platoons in the Company; so I now command the eighth platoon.  Sergeant Clews is the name of the platoon sergeant.  Sergeant Dawson (who saw Norman Kemp killed and has the same high opinion of his heroic qualities as everybody else, whether officer, N.C.O., or man, who knew him; who tells me that he was by far the most loved officer in the Battalion—­’one who will never be forgotten’) is also in my platoon.

“In the afternoon I went with the Company on a bathing parade.  It was about half an hour’s march.  They bathed in a canal.

“After tea I had a stroll in the country:  it is very pretty, especially this weather....

“Captain Andrews goes home on leave to-night; so Lieutenant Halstead is in command of B Company for a fortnight.”

“June 15th.

“The weather continues hot.  We had another Battalion parade this morning:  procedure the same as yesterday.  The Colonel is still most agreeable; he has not said a cross word to me yet.

“We took the afternoon easy, except that there was a parade for inspection of equipment at 4 p.m.

“I received, this afternoon, a letter from you of June 11, and one from Mother of June 10, also enclosures.  I am sorry to learn that you are both worrying.  What’s the use of worrying?  What is there to worry about?  I am quite safe.  If I had the ‘wind up’ it might be another matter; but I do not, strange to say, even dread the time when we shall go back into the line!  I think it rather exciting.  One is inclined to feel a little ‘windy’ when shells and ‘minnies’ are bursting dangerously near, or when a machine-gun spurts out of the gloaming; but there is a certain element of excitement about it all.  I would not have missed those few days in the Salient for worlds.  I had a pleasant ‘baptism of fire’ there.  Everybody seems to think that it was worse than going over the top in a push.  Those who fought at the Battle of the Somme last year say that they would rather be there than in the place where we were last week!  Candidly, I cannot understand it.

“We shall remain out of the line for some time yet—­so cheer up!”

CHAPTER V