Captain Macfarlane, putting his hand gently on his shoulder, said: "Now you know how the land lies. I only heard last night, and thought you yourself should give the news to the other two. I hope that will rather soften the blow. Won't it, Mr. Orpen?"
"Right, sir! Thank you very much for telling me first, and for telling me yourself," the Orphan managed to say. "And thank you very much for recommending me. None of us knew anything about it."
"Well, good-bye! Perhaps you'd like to tell the news now; I'll send them along."
So, in a minute or two, the Sub and the Hun arrived.
"Hello! my jumping Orphan! Patched you up, have they, my wounded warrior! The Skipper says you want to see us."
"You both have got the D.S.C. The Captain's just told me. Isn't that grand?"
They didn't believe him for a moment. Then the Sub, roaring like a bull, threw the Hun on the deck and nearly strangled him. "And you? What about you?" he sang out, letting the Hun get up; and seeing by the Orphan's face that he had had no such luck, became quiet.
"Whatever for?" they both asked. "What did they give it to us for?"
"For going in and fetching the boats back from 'W' beach that first time."
"Oh! that!" growled the Sub. "What a rotten shame! You did as much as I, or the Hun, did. That's the rottenest thing I ever heard of. Well, old chap, I'm confoundedly sorry," said the Sub, gripping the Orphan's arm; "confoundedly sorry."