“It do, boy, very, very hard; but orders are orders, and I forgot to teach you what is the first thing a soldier has to learn.”
“What’s that, Serge? How to use his sword and shield? You did teach me that.”
“No, that’s not what I meant. What a soldier has to learn first is to obey orders, and I want to teach you that now.”
Marcus was silent for a while, as he stood looking wistfully at the speaker, then at the bright soldierly accoutrements, back at the old man, and lastly, as if the bright weapons and armour fascinated him, he stood frowning fixedly down at everything that was spread out upon the rough table.
The boy’s looks and actions affected the old man, who said sadly:
“It do seem hard, lad, eh?”
“Yes, very, very hard, Serge,” replied Marcus.
“But it’s duty, boy, eh! What we ought to do?”
“Yes, Serge, and it must be done; but I wish we had never begun it all.”
“Ay, lad, so do I; but it’s of no use to wish. There, have one good look at it, and then I’ll put it all away in the big chestnut box.”