And Susan stopped. There were times when Susan knew enough to stop, and this was one of them.
But she took him at his word, and when Mrs. McGuire came the next day with a letter from her John, Susan ushered her into the living-room where Keith was sitting alone. And Keith welcomed her with at least a good imitation of his old heartiness.
Mrs. McGuire said she had such a funny letter to read to-day. She knew he'd enjoy it, and Susan would, too, particularly the part that John had quoted from something that had been printed by the British soldiers in France and circulated among their comrades in the trenches and hospitals, and everywhere. John had written it off on a separate piece of paper, and this was it:
Don't worry: there's nothing to worry about.
You have two alternatives: either you are mobilized or you are not. If not, you have nothing to worry about.
If you are mobilized, you have two alternatives: you are in camp or at the front. If you are in camp, you have nothing to worry about.
If you are at the front, you have two alternatives: either you are on the fighting line or in reserve. If in reserve, you have nothing to worry about.
If you are on the fighting line, you have two alternatives: either you fight or you don't. If you don't, you have nothing to worry about.
If you do, you have two alternatives: either you get hurt or you don't. If you don't, you have nothing to worry about.
If you are hurt, you have two alternatives: either you are slightly hurt or badly. If slightly, you have nothing to worry about.