Poons grinned amiably. He had been warned by the others, notably by
Pinac in very bad German, not to let Von Barwig see that they felt down
in the mouth. He kept a smile on his face when he thought of it, and
was exceedingly sorrowful when he didn't; so the expression on his face
altered from time to time, much to Von Barwig's astonishment. Once,
during breakfast, Pinac heard Poons sigh and kicked him under the
table, whereupon he immediately grinned. Von Barwig saw this lightning
change and wondered what was the matter.
"Are you in pain?" he asked.
"No," replied Poons, trying to smile, but only succeeding in grinning.
Then he laughed with real tears in his eyes.
"Are you laughing or crying?" asked Von Barwig. "If you are laughing,
please cry; and if you are crying, for heaven's sake laugh."