I assure you," he went on with a winning look, "there is no future in
that. If you do not at once begin to carve fresh niches for yourselves
in the temple of industrialism you will be engulfed by the returning
flood, and left high and dry upon the beach of fortune."
During these last few words the half of an irritated look on the faces
of the soldiers changed to fragments of an indulgent and protective
expression.
"Right you are, guv'nor," said the one in the middle. Don't you worry,
we'll see you home all right.
"It is you," said Mr. Lavender, "that I must see home. For that is
largely the duty of us who have not had the great privilege of fighting
for our country."
These words, which completed the soldiers' conviction that Mr. Lavender
was not quite all there, caused them to rise.
"Come on, then," said one; "we'll see each other home. We've got to be in
by five. You don't have a string to your dog, I see."
"Oh no!" said Mr. Lavender puzzled "I am not blind."
"Balmy," said the soldier soothingly. "Come on, sir, an' we can talk
abaht it on the way."
Mr. Lavender, delighted at the impression he had made, rose and walked
beside them, taking insensibly the direction for home.
"What do you advise us to do, then, guv'nor?" said one of the soldiers.
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