"I'm sorry to hear that, M'Nab—very sorry. But look here, I'll write to the doctor to-day and tell him to buy everything that they need. Will that keep your mind easy?"
"Thenk ye, sir. It's awfu' guid o' ye."
[pg 199] "And it's very good of you, M'Nab, one with all your responsibilities, to serve your country. That's why I do it."
"I'll no' forget you, sir," concluded M'Nab with a lump in his throat, as he saluted and marched away.
"Here's a letter from Private Smith's mother, sir. She says he hasn't sent any money for a month, sir, and when he was on pass he got drunk, smashed up the crockery, and pawned the old woman's bedclothes."
"Call him up."
"What's this you have been doing?"
"Nothing, sir," was the insolent reply.
"Do you call insulting and robbing your mother, nothing? You're a low rascal. Now, look here, I'm sending your mother two pounds to-day to keep her going. But I'm going to stop it out of your pay. Charity would be wasted on a man like you. And if I were not an officer I would give you a sound thrashing."
"I'm sorry, sir,—I'll no' dae it again."