t's just speculative loss," said Nairn. "Now I've lost an actual
income. You men know I'm by way of being a financial authority. Well,
who wants financial advice nowadays? I give you my word of honour I've
sold nothing since the war began except half-a-dozen articles on the
weakness of Germany's financial position. If it is anything like my
financial position the war won't last long. I envy Wilson over there.
He's got something to sell that's wanted. Nothing like the wholesale
woollen business nowadays."

Wilson shook his head. "You don't know all," he said. "I don't mind
telling you fellows in confidence that I owe over four thousand pounds,
and I don't know when I shall be in a position to pay it."

Everyone looked sympathetic, and when Wilson had risen from his seat and
walked towards the door there was a general murmur of "Poor fellow, it's
hit him very hard."

Wilson paused at the door and looked back. "Did I mention," he said,
"that I owe that sum to German manufacturers?"

It was unanimously voted by the Cheering-Up Association that no club
rule was violated when Mitchell hurled a match-stand at the member whom
we had been cheering up on false pretences.

* * * * *

THE LAST LINE.

III.

As our wives remark to each other nowadays over the knitted helmets,
"It's extraordinary how dark London is at night." They then drop two and
purl two, and add, "Particularly as the evenings are drawing in so." But
while they prattle of it thus lightly we (their husbands) are outside in
it all, marching ... and wheeling ... and tripping over each other. At
what risk to ourselves I will show you.

It was Thursday the 22nd, and at six o'clock our Company might have been
seen (had there been a better light to see it by) progressing smartly in
column of platoons. The shades of night were falling fast as over
Regent's Park we passed, and my platoon was marching last, excelsior. As
my platoon came opposite our Commanding Officer he gave the order,
"About turn." We did so. "Form fours, left"--we made it that. The night
fell thicker; I can now speak only for myself and my immediate
neighbours. "Right incline"--we inclined rightly. Another "Right
incline" and a "Halt," and then the C.O. came up to look for us. My
platoon had got together somehow, and murmurs came to us from the
platoons behind us. You know how quickly a rumour will run through a
company. Such a rumour now ran through ours. It went