with the soup that
he was on the point of swallowing. He blinked mildly at this confident
young man, his breast ablaze with decorations, whom he had not invited.
"Then, in your opinion, what has war ever created," he asked with
dangerous courtesy; "this war, for instance, that's just ended?"

"This war that's just ended is the only war of which I have had any
experience." Braithwaite glanced across at Terry for encouragement. "I
know what it created in me and in thousands like me. It created in us
the most valuable of all assets--character. In the bitter test of pain
and dirt and despair we _found_ ourselves--found ourselves capable of
more nobility than we had ever dreamt possible. We sorted out afresh, in
hours that we thought would be our last, all our inherited superstitions
and servilities; in so doing we discovered that God and life itself are
much kinder than we had been informed. Because of that discovery men who
had been timid learnt how to face death gladly, shirkers how to shoulder
responsibility, selfish people how to become decent through the fine
humanity of sharing. Time-servers learnt how to get up off their bellies
and confront misfortune with a laugh. I don't know whether I make myself
clear; perhaps one had to be a part of the great game to understand its
lessons. That we do understand them is the reward of those who have
survived. We've come back to you as uncomfortable fellows; we shall be
much more uncomfortable before we're satisfied. We intend to fight for
the same equalities in peace that you sent us out to fight for in war.
You asked me what this particular war has created; it has created a
complete new set of social and spiritual values. It's done away with the
uncharity of caste."

During his last words he had been gazing across the table at Tabs with a
fearless challenge, as much as to say, "That's who I am. Now expose me."

But Tabs was remembering the coster's reason for not having dragged him
into the police-courts, "Served in the ranks, did yer? Then you and me
was pals out there!" Braithwaite, whether he knew it or not, had been
doing a piece of special pleading for himself. He and Braithwaite,
whatever they might be now, had been pals out there. Silently Tabs had
been thinking while he had been listening, "You're right and I'm with
you. I'd be with you still more if you'd only live up to your standards
by sticking to Ann."

It was Sir Tobias who took the offensive. The soup-plates h