"Yes, but I mean if he is able to write he can't be so very bad."
"Oh, 'e didn't write that. That was August come a twelvemonth. The very first thing they done to him was to take out pretty near 'alf 'is teeth. The military authorities do pull you about something shocking."
"And where did he go after Hav—after Leehar—I mean after the hospital?" I was getting rather bewildered.
"Oh, 'e went to the War right enough; but 'is digestion's that bad. They said 'e'd feel a lot better once 'is teeth was was out, but 'e ses, 'Mother,' 'e ses, 'you want a mouth full of teeth to eat this bullet beef what they give us.' Next thing was they set him to drive them machines."
"What machines would those be?" I asked, groping for a little light.
"Why, them motors as they use out there. 'E got meddling with one of 'em, and it was the nearest thing 'e didn't 'ave 'is 'and in a jelly; the machine didn't act proper, or somethink o' that."
"And do you mean that his hand was injured?"
"Not as I've 'eard on," came the prompt reply.
"Well, but I thought you said your son had been wounded."
"Ah, yes, that was 'is toe, yer see; sent 'im down to the base 'ospital, Leeharver."