"Certainly I would, it was him or me. Obedience I meant having, and if he wasn't going to give it, he'd have got hurt, that's all."
"This is not the German Army, Graeme."
"No, if it were we shouldn't keep the useless devils we do in command. Old Carthew, for instance; I wish you'd let me have a go at him, sir."
"Kindly remember, Graeme, you're speaking of a senior officer."
"Well, if I am, sir, I'm only saying what every one in the column knows. Why, last night at dinner, before his officers, he said that our present expedition was hopeless, and that he had reason to believe you thought so too."
Bradford was silent.
"Of course, he ought not to have said that, Graeme," he answered after a pause, "but I'm afraid he's only expressing the general feeling."
"What does that matter, sir, if it's not yours?"
"But ... perhaps it is mine, Graeme; it's certainly that of my staff officer, Major Godwin."
"Godwin? An old woman."