Rain was pattering down; the smell of drugs reached them.

“It does make a difference when you know one of them—doesn't it?.... God, man, we're cluttered with wounded. The dead are at peace—”

“I wonder what stars he's watching to-night?”

“Come, come. Peter—”

“I know.... I know, Boylan. Only it shows me something. He was a great workman. There are things in the world that can't be done because he's gone. There are others like him. He had a girl. He had a friend. He had us—”

Boylan decided that talking was good. He listened and prepared soup.

“And to-morrow they're at it again,” said Peter.

“It won't look the same in the morning—”

Peter did not answer.

“Anyway, you didn't bring on the war, Peter—”