"You may well say if. But you'll be gone yourself, then."
"Maybe I shall not let them come at all. There are too many girls here now." And Magnus cast cynical eyes towards several free-and-easy damsels who were sauntering across the plain, well attended.
"There they go," he said; "men and girls and parasols. And the parasols are the only things in the lot with a grain of sense. Just hear that pink girl laugh! She's got Duncy in tow, telling him: 'Oh, Mr. Duncy! you are so amusing!'"
"Shouldn't wonder if she wasn't. I think he is, sometimes, myself," said Rig.
"He is a consistent goose," said Magnus.
"Come, now, Kin, you're out of humour," Rig said soothingly. "You'll feel better after dinner."
"No I shall not," Magnus answered crossly. "Last Thursday I had chicken pie and apple fritters."
Rig gave a groan.
"Well," he said, "it can't be helped, so eat all you can. And there goes the drum."
The two set off for barracks, but if Magnus had eased his mind, he had certainly given his heart an extra load.