Chapter 25 Summary and Analysis

Meanwhile, Graves' health continued to deteriorate and he developed several nervous disorders. For example, he became obsessed with the idea of a gas attack—even the smell of flowers would convince him that poison gas was about—and any loud noises would startle him, sending him diving to the floor. He was transferred from his training position to less-intensive duty at Oswestry where he oversaw various transfers of men and materiel. Here he commenced a correspondence with Nancy Nicholson, a young woman with whom he had a passing acquaintance. On his next leave, October 1917, he called on her at home. After this, their letters took on a romantic character. Nicholson, like Graves, was against organized religion and rather anti-war. She also was an ardent feminist, and saw all social problems in terms of women's rights.

Graves was then dispatched...