Thus was Tiadatha’s wooing, Thus he parted from his Phyllis. You will say ’twas not idyllic, Wooing in a London taxi, Parting on a London pavement. Yet romance is where your heart is Idylls what you like to make them. Anyone can be romantic In a punt beneath the willows; Anyone can be romantic In a woodland dell at sunset. But if punt and dell are absent And you want to tell your Phyllis, Want to tell her how you love her, Be a man like Tiadatha, Take her in your arms and tell her Even in a London taxi. CHAPTER IV TIADATHA’S DEPARTURE On a day in late September, In September 1915, Marched the 14th Royal Dudshires For the last time past their General, Ere they sailed to fight the Germans. After which my Tiadatha Sorted out the things he needed, All the things he thought he needed, For a life on active service, Active service in the trenches. “Thirty-five pounds, Tiadatha,” Said his Company Commander, Sitting on a mighty bundle, “Not another ounce, remember.” “Thirty-five pounds,” said the T.O. “Not another ounce, remember, Or I put the whole darned lot off.” All day long he heard their warnings, In his dreams he heard their warnings, “Thirty-five pounds, Tiadatha.” Ruefully he left behind him Presents from his fond relations— Cooking stoves and writing cases, Body shields and balaclavas, Medicine chests and many mittens, Also twenty-seven mufflers Knitted by some loving cousins, And a vast supply of Horlick’s. Even then it looked too bulky, That valise of Tiadatha’s, Very big and fat and bulging, Though he’d only crammed inside it Just the barest necessaries For a life on active service— And a pair of silk pyjamas, Just one pair of pink pyjamas, Souvenirs of Piccadilly. Then he helped his batman raise it, Watched his batman stagger with it To the laden limbered wagon. “Much too heavy,” said the T.O. Pointing an accusing finger. “Did I not say thirty-five pounds? This is over sixty-seven.” So they took it round the corner (Tiadatha and his batman), And with superhuman efforts Tightened up the straps a little, Hoisted it upon the limber When the T.O. wasn’t looking.