The young Colonel interposed. “It’s very difficult to deal with the matter. There’s a high percentage of skilled men in our formation. They want to be getting back to their jobs.” “It’s really rather natural,” agreed the Captain. Dormer tried to help him. “We all do, don’t we?” There was a sympathetic murmur in the Mess which evidently displeased the Colonel. “I’m not accustomed to all this going home after the battle. Time-expired men I understand, but the New Army enlistments----” He left it at that, and Dormer felt for him, probably, with the exception of a few servants and N.C.O.’s, the only pre-War soldier in the Mess, uncertain of himself and trying not to see the ill-suppressed sympathy if not envy with which most of the officers around him regarded the affair. “Awfully sorry, Dormer,” the Captain concluded, “we simply can’t get our crowd together. You see how it is. When this has blown over I’ll come across and see you, and we will fix something up.” Dormer went. The Gunner Captain came that evening. In Dormer’s smaller Mess, it needed only a hint to the youngsters to clear out for a few minutes. Dormer admired the good humour with which the other approached him. It was obviously the only thing to do. Over drinks he asked, modelling himself on the other’s attitude: “So that business blew over, did it?” “It did, thank goodness. Awfully decent of you to take it as you did. I hated letting you down.” “Don’t mention it. I saw how you were placed.” “The Colonel very much appreciated the way you spoke. I hope you had no trouble with your chaps?” “They were all right. I pitched them a yarn. They didn’t believe it, of course. Some of them were at the--er----” “The bloomin’ Parliament. Don’t mind saying it. It’s a dreadful shock to a regular like our old man.” “Naturally.” “He spoke the plain unvarnished truth when he said he was unused to all this demobbing.” “Well, well, you can comfort him, I suppose, by pointing out that it isn’t likely to occur again.” “He’s a good old tough ’un. Splendid man in action, that’s what makes one so sorry about it. Otherwise, of course, one knows what the men mean. It’s only natural.” “Perfectly.” “His trouble is not only the newness of it. It’s his utter helplessness.” “Quite so. Absolutely nothing to be done. The--er--meeting was as orderly as possible. I walked right through it. They simply ignored me.” “Oh yes, there’s no personal feeling. They all paraded this morning complete and regular.” “That’s the end of it, I hope.” “I think so. They came up to the Mess--three N.C.O.’s--a deputation, if you please. They brought a copy of the resolution that was passed.” Neither could keep a straight face, but laughter did not matter because it was simultaneous. The Captain went on, finishing his drink: