Page:Lieutenant and Others (1915) by Sapper.djvu/130

 “What is it, mate?” said Brown, leaning forward.

“Take the letters out of my pocket, matey,” he muttered. “Them blokes at the War Office takes so long—and send ’em to—to” The lips framed the words feebly, but no sound came.

“Who to, pal?” whispered Brown; but even as he spoke the poor maimed form quivered and lay still. And as I watched Brown lay his head gently down, and close his eyes, the road, the houses seemed to grow a trifle misty. When I next looked up I saw him stumping away down the road, and, as he rounded the corner, a dreadful noise stating that, with regard to a lady named Thora, “he had loved ’er in life too little, ’e ’ad loved ’er in death too well,” came floating back in the still air.

Yet methinks no great man’s soul, speeded on its way by organ and anthem, ever had a nobler farewell than that limber driver, if the spirit of the singer has anything to do with it.

But, as I said before, I could continue indefinitely. Was there not the terrible