“Why did you decline the commission, Jeremy?”
Jeremy moved uneasily, and looked through the little cabin-window.
“On general principles,” he answered, presently.
“Nonsense! I know you would have liked to go into the army. Don’t you remember, as we were riding up to the camp at Isandhlwana, you said that you proposed that if the corps did anything, we should try and work it?”
“Yes.”
“Well?”
“Well, I said we!”
“I don’t quite follow you, Jeremy.”
“My dear Ernest, you can’t go in for a commission now, can you?”
Ernest laughed a little bitterly.