| 3:14a |
@@@@@But it is a repetition of Margaret with
@@@@@But it is a repetition of Margaret with humiliating endings, and in another year or two he keeps to himself, devotes himself to running his outfits
In that he has talentHe absorbs the problem completely, thinks at night in bed of how best to treat the different men, how to command them most effectivelyIn the daytime he spends nearly all his time with the company, supervising labor details, conducting continual inspectionsHis companies are always the best managed on the post; his company street is easily the cleanest and neatest
On Saturday mornings a squad from each platoon is put to work cutting the weeds from under the barracks
He has all the patent brass polishers tested, selects the best, and has an order posted that the men can use only that brand
In the daily latrine inspections he is always one step ahead of the men; one morning he gets down on his hands and knees, lifts the drain plate, and gigs the platoon because there is grease in the pipe
When he inspects he brings a needle, probes the cracks on the stairs for dust
In the gymkhana which the post holds every summer his company teams always winHe has them practicing from the first of February
The company mess floor is scrubbed with boiling water after every meal
He is always ahead of the menOne big Saturday inspection when a visiting general is expected, he instructs his first sergeant to have the men grease the soles of their extra shoes, which are exhibited at the foot of their bed
He has been known to strip a rifle on the parade ground and examine the rear of the hammer spring for dirt
There is always a standing gag in his company that the Old Man is thinking of having the men take off their shoes before they enter the barracks
The field officers are agreed that Captain Cummings is the best junior officer on the post
On a visit to her family in Boston, Margaret is questionedYou're not planning any children yet?
No, I don't think so, she laughsEdward would probably have him scrubbing the bassinette
Don't you think seven years now is a long time?
Oh, it is, I suppose
It's not a good idea to wait too longMen are very odd, positively oddYou always think they're one thing and they turn out to be another
Her aunt purses her thin mout |