"Not to old Sally's son, Jim?"

"'Im as 'urted 'is 'and blackberry time--a year ago this very month?"

"'Im. Ill unto death, 'e were, with blood poisonin', and Doctor 'e says
what a shockin' state 'is blood must 'ave been in for the poison to
serve 'im so."

"An' old Sally been a-keepin' of 'im ever since. 'Er needle been at it
reg'lar, but 'ardly earnin' a livin' wage owin' to the meanness of them
who 'as it to pay."

"An' a poisoned and, when the worst be over, ain't no bar to the
appetite."

"Glad she's been to do it sooner than lose 'im, as she lost 'is brother
with 'oopin'-cough."

"That must be a matter of twenty-five year ago--before ever Jim was
born."

"You ain't told us yet, dear, what Doctor done."

"I'm comin' to that. Jim, 'e's not without 'is uses an' 'e's more time,
like, to read the paper than the other men. So 'e reads the news an'
tells it all over at 'Plough an' 'Orses' nights, an' they do say the way
'e urges of the men to 'list is somethin' wonderful."

"Not thinkin' of goin' 'isself, of course?"

"Ain't 'e 'ad a poisoned 'and? Still, this 'e did; to a lot of chaps as
'eld back 'e says--'If you goes to Doctor to be examined I'll go with
you,' 'e says--could a man do more? 'I tell you honest,' 'e says, 'that
with my poor 'and I'm a man marked down for stayin' at 'ome, worse luck.
What would I give,' 'e says, 'to go forth in the pride of 'ealth, same
as you? Still, I'll go to Doctor with the rest of you, if only to show
'ow these things should be done.'"

"'Ow many went?"

"Three in all, includin' of Jim. 'E led the way up to Doctor's surgery,
then 'e waved the others in front of 'im. 'Take the sound men first,
Sir,' 'e says, 'an' then, if you'll spare me a minute, I'll take it
kind.'"

"What did Doctor do?"

"Doctor 'e does as Jim says and takes 'im last, after tellin' the other
two as they were better at 'ome. 'I been waitin' for you,' 'e says, an'
'e turned on Jim that fierce as never was. 'A 'and as 'as been perfectly
well for the last six months to my certain knowledge ain't goin' to
prevent you fightin',' he says, 'so off you go an' 'list.'"

"Poor old Sally! No one to work for now but just 'erself, then?"

"War be an awful thing, it seems, for raisin' the wicked passions in
peaceful men. Keyser, Geyser--whatever 'e calls 'isself--and our old
Doctor ... it be all the same."

* * * * *

Extract from Fortress Orders at Malta:--

"A bo