There was no expectation of any imminent attack anywhere, both sides were preparing for “the spring meeting,” as our people called it; and leave was being given with a certain amount of freedom. This left juniors sometimes in charge of full companies, an experience that helped to bring forward the merits of various N.C.O.’s and men; for no two company commanders take the same view of the same private; and on his return from leave the O.C. may often be influenced by the verdict of his _locum tenens_ to give more or less responsibility to a particular individual. _Thus: Locum Tenens._ “I say, Buffles, while you were away, I took out Hasken—No, not ‘Bullock’ Hasken—‘Spud’—on that double-ditch patrol, out by the dead rifle-man. He didn’t strike _me_ as a fool.” _Buffles._ “Didn’t he? _I_ can’t keep my patience with him. He talks too much.” _L. T._ “Not when he’s outside the wire. And he doesn’t see things in the dark as much as some of ’em.” (Meditatively, mouth filled with fondants brought from home by Buffles.) “Filthy stuff this war-chocolate is.” (Pause.) “Er, what do _you_ think? He’s lance already.” _Buffles._ “I know it. I don’t think he’s much of a lance either. Well ...” _L. T._ “Anyhow, he’s dead keen on night jobs. But if you took him once or twice and tried him.... He _is_ dead keen.... Eh?” _Buffles._ “All right. We’ll see. Where is that dam’ logbook?” Thus the matter is settled without one direct word being spoken, and “Spud” Hasken comes to his own for better or for worse. On the 7th February, they were shifted, as they had anticipated, to the left of the right sector of the divisional front, which meant much less comfortable trenches round Pont du Hem, and badly battered Headquarters at Winchester House. They relieved the 1st Coldstream in the line on the 9th, and found at once plenty of work in strengthening parapets, raising trench-boards, and generally attending to their creature comforts. (“Never have I known _any_ battalion in the Brigade that had a good word to say for the way the other battalions live. We might all have been brides, the way we went to our new housekeepings in every new place—turnin’ up our noses at our neighbours.”)