"It's a good life for a healthy man," went on the sergeant. "We'll talk it over," and he ordered another drink apiece.
John Williams, who had had more than enough before the sergeant had spoken to him, gazed mistily at his new acquaintance. "Thee do seem to have a main lot o' money to spend."
The sergeant laughed. "It's Army pay, mate, as does it. I get a fine, easy life, good clothes and food, and plenty of money for my glass of beer. Where did you sleep last night?" he asked suddenly.
"If I do mind me right," said John Williams, "it were in a leaky barn, over Newton way."
"Where are you going to sleep to-night?" asked the sergeant again.
Williams remembered his empty pocket. "I doan't know," he said with regret. "Most likely on some seat in the park."
"Well, you come along o' me, and you'll get a comfortable barricks to sleep in, a life as you likes, and a bob a day to spend on yourself."
John Williams listened to the dripping of the rain outside. To his bemused brain the thought of a "comfortable barricks" was very, very tempting. "Blame me if I doan't come along o' thee," he said at length.
In wartime a medical examination is soon over and an attestation paper filled up. "There's nothing wrong with you, my man," said the Medical Officer, "except that you're half drunk."
"I bean't drunk, mister," protested Williams sleepily.