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The three soldiers had turned what was visible of their faces towards Mr。
Lavender； and； seeing that he had riveted their attention； he proceeded：
〃The apathy which hospital produces； together with the present scarcity
of labour； is largely responsible for the dangerous position in which the
disabled man now finds himself。 Only we who have not to face his future
can appreciate what that future is likely to be if he does not make the
most strenuous efforts to overcome it。 Boys；〃 he added earnestly；
remembering suddenly that this was the word which those who had the
personal touch ever employed； 〃are you making those efforts？ Are you
equipping your minds？ Are you taking advantage of your enforced leisure
to place yourselves upon some path of life in which you can largely hold
your own against all comers？〃
He paused for a reply。
The soldiers； silent for a moment； in what seemed to Mr。 Lavender to be
sheer astonishment； began to fidget； then the one next him turned to his
neighbour； and said：
〃Are we； Alf？ Are we doin' what the gentleman says？〃
〃I can answer that for you；〃 returned Mr。 Lavender brightly； 〃for I can
tell by your hospitalized faces that you are living in the present； a
habit which； according to our best writers； is peculiar to the British。
I assure you；〃 he went on with a winning look； 〃there is no future in
that。 If you do not at once begin to carve fresh niches for yourselves
in the temple of industrialism you will be engulfed by the returning
flood； and left high and dry upon the beach of fortune。〃
During these last few words the half of an irritated look on the faces of
the soldiers changed to fragments of an indulgent and protective
expression。
〃Right you are； guv'nor；〃 said the one in the middle。 Don't you worry；
we'll see you home all right。
〃It is you；〃 said Mr。 Lavender； 〃that I must see home。 For that is
largely the duty of us who have not had the great privilege of fighting
for our country。〃
These words； which completed the soldiers' conviction that Mr。 Lavender
was not quite all there； caused them to rise。
〃Come on； then；〃 said one； we'll see each other home。 We've got to be in
by five。 You don't have a string to your dog； I see。〃
〃Oh no！〃 said Mr。 Lavender puzzled 〃I am not blind。〃
〃Balmy；〃 said the soldier soothingly。 〃Come on； sir； an' we can talk
abaht it on the way。〃
Mr。 Lavender； delighted at the impression he had made； rose and walked
beside them； taking insensibly the direction for home。
〃What do you advise us to do； then； guv'nor？〃 said one of the soldiers。
〃Throw away all thought of the present；〃 returned Mr。 Lavender； with
intense earnestness； 〃forget the past entirely； wrap yourselves wholly in
the future。 Do nothing which will give you immediate satisfaction。 Do
not consider your families； or any of those transient considerations such
as pleasure； your homes； your condition of health； or your economic
position； but place yourselves unreservedly in the hands of those who by
hard thinking on this subject are alone in the condition to appreciate
the individual circumstances of each of you。 For only by becoming a
flock of sheep can you be conducted into those new pastures where the
grass of your future will be sweet and plentiful。 Above all； continue to
be the heroes which you were under the spur of your country's call； for
you must remember that your country is still calling you。〃
〃That's right；〃 said the soldier on Mr。 Lavender's left。 〃Puss； puss！
Does your dog swot cats？〃
At so irrelevant a remark Mr。 Lavender looked suspiciously from left to
right； but what there was of the soldiers' faces told him nothing。
〃Which is your hospital？〃 he asked。
〃Down the 'ill； on the right；〃 returned the soldier。 〃Which is yours？〃
〃Alas！ it is not in a hospital that I〃
〃I know；〃 said the soldier delicately； 〃don't give it a name； no need。
We're all friends 'ere。 Do you get out much？〃
〃I always take an afternoon stroll；〃 said Mr。 Lavender； 〃when my public
life permits。 If you think your comrades would like me to come and
lecture to them on their future I should be only too happy。〃
〃D'you 'ear； Alf？〃 said the soldier。 〃D'you think they would？〃
The soldier； addressed put a finger to the sound side of his mouth and
uttered a catcall。
〃I might effect a radical change in their views； continued Mr。 Lavender；
a little puzzled。 〃Let me leave you this periodical。 Read it； and you
will see how extremely vital all that I have been saying is。 And then；
perhaps； if you would send me a round robin； such as is usual in a
democratic country； I could pop over almost any day after five。 I
sometimes feel〃and here Mr。 Lavender stopped in the middle of the road；
overcome by sudden emotion〃 that I have really no right to be alive
when I see what you have suffered for me。〃
〃That's all right； old bean；〃； said the soldier on his left； 〃you'd 'a
done the same for us but for your disabilities。 We don't grudge it
you'。〃
〃Boys；〃 said Mr。 Lavender； 〃you are men。 I cannot tell you how much I
admire and love you。〃
〃Well； give it a rest； then； t'ain't good for yer。 And； look 'ere！ Any
time they don't treat you fair in there； tip us the wink； and we'll come
over and do in your 'ousekeeper。〃
Mr。 Lavender smiled。
〃My poor housekeeper！〃 he said。 〃I thank you all the same for your
charming goodwill。 This is where I live；〃 he added； stopping at the gate
of the little house smothered in lilac and laburnum。 〃Can I offer you
some tea？〃
The three soldiers looked at each other； and Mr。 Lavender； noticing their
surprise； attributed it to the word tea。
〃I regret exceedingly that I am a total abstainer；〃 he said。
The remark； completing the soldiers' judgment of his case； increased
their surprise at the nature of his residence； it remained unanswered；
save by a shuffling of the feet。
Mr。 Lavender took off his hat。
〃I consider it a great privilege；〃 he said； 〃to have been allowed to
converse with you。 Goodbye； and God bless you！〃
So saying； he opened the gate and entered his little garden carrying his
hat in his hand； and followed by Blink。
The soldiers watched him disappear within； then continued on their way
down the hill in silence。
〃Blimy；〃 said one suddenly； 〃some of these old civilians 'ave come it
balmy on the crumpet since the war began。 Give me the trenches！〃
XIV
ENDEAVOURS TO INTERN A GERMAN
Aglow with satisfaction at what he had been able to do for the wounded
soldiers； Mr。 Lavender sat down in his study to drink the tea which he
found there。 〃There is nothing in life；〃 he thought； 〃which gives one
such satisfaction as friendliness and being able to do something for
others。 Moon…cat！〃
The moon…cat； who； since Mr。 Lavender had given her milk； abode in his
castle； awaiting her confinement； purred loudly；