McPhee has affected the Gallic tongue since his sojourn in France.
"Why, what are you doing all by yourself, McPhee?" I asked. "Are you on duty?"
"Na, na," he said, "ah'm pleasin' masel just."
He paused and emitted a fierce chuckle.
"Ah'm gettin' even," he announced; "they wantit me to gang oot wi' a wumman."
"But whatever made them want you to do that, McPhee?"
"One o' thae nurses," continued the patient smoulderingly. "Ah fought at Mons, an' Ah fought at New Chapelle, an' Ah fought at Wipers, that's what ignorant pairsons ca' Eepers; and they wantit me to gang oot wi' a wumman. Why for did they no send me oot to fight the Jairmans in a peerambulator?"
"Oh," I said, at last enlightened. "But surely, McPhee, the nurses are very nice. And think how hurt they will be if you won't go out with them."
"Ah'm no denyin' some o' them are a' recht," said McPhee grudgingly, "but it's a maitter o' preenciple. An' I'm gettin' even wi' them the noo!"
He chuckled again.