SCENE--_An Office._ BROWN _and_ JONES _discovered talking over the
incidents of the recent holiday._
_Brown._ Yes; I was up at six on the Monday.
_Jones._ Well, you were in luck; for I had to be ready by four. The
battalion had to be drawn up at the station by 4.45.
_Brown._ To be sure. You went down before we did.
_Jones._ Yes. I wish we had got some coffee before starting.
_Brown._ But you had your breakfast on your arrival, didn't you?
_Jones._ Yes, to be sure; but as we were a bit late, it was rather a
scramble.
_Brown._ Well, of course one has to get on to parade as soon as
possible. We cut it rather fine too. But that's the case with all of
us.
_Jones._ To be sure; and if you lose time at one end, you must make up
for it at the other--that stands to reason. And how did you get on?
_Brown._ First rate. We were on the march from nine to five.
_Jones._ So were we; and didn't have time scarcely to get to our
havresacks.
_Brown._ Just our fortune. Always on the move. I wore out my leathers
in fine style.
_Jones._ So did I. And then we had to go back to the train before we
could get any dinner.
_Brown._ My fate too. And, when I got home, the slavey had forgotten
to lay supper!
_Jones._ So had mine. But still it was a glorious holiday--now, wasn't
it?
_Brown._ I should say it was! A glorious holiday!
[_They return to their ledgers._
* * * * *