r
bayonets.

"I never had any children," sobbed Mrs Bantem then; "and I never wished
to have any; for they're not right for soldiers' wives; but only to
think--the poor sweet, suffering little things. Oh, if I'd only been a
man, and been there!"

We none of us said anything; but I believe all thought as I did, that if
Mrs Bantem had been there, she'd have done as much--ah, perhaps more--
than some men would have done. Often, since then, as I think of it, and
recall it from the bygone, there I can see Mother Bantem--though why we
called her mother, I don't know, unless it was because she was like a
mother to us--with her great strapping form; and think of the way in
which she--

Halt! Retire by fours from the left.

Just in time; for I find handling my pen's like handling a
commander-in-chief's staff and that I've got letters which make words,
which make phrases, which make sentences, which make paragraphs, which
make chapters, which make up the whole story: and that is for all the
world like the army with its privates made into companies, and
battalions, and regiments, and brigades. Well, there you are: if you
don't have discipline, and every private in his right place, where are
you? Just so with me; my words were coming out in the wrong places, and
in another minute I should have spoiled my story, by letting you know
what was coming at the wrong time.

Well, we all felt very deeply the news brought in by that orderly, for
soldiers are not such harum-scarum roughs as some people seem to
imagine. For the most part, they're men with the same feelings as
civilians; and I don't think many of us slept very sound that night,
feeling as we did what a charge we had, and that we might be attacked at
any time; and a good deal of my anxiety was on account of Lizzy Green;
for even if she wouldn't be my wife, but Harry Lant's, I could not help
taking a wonderful deal of interest in her.

But all the same it was a terribly awkward time, as you must own, for
falling in love; and I don't know hardly whom I pitied most, Captain
Dyer or myself; but think I had more leanings towards number one,
because Captain Dyer was happy; though, perhaps, I might have been; only
like lots more hot sighing noodles, I never once thought of asking the
girl if she'd have me. As for Lieutenant Leigh, I never once thought of
giving him a bit of pity, for I did not think he deserved it.

Well, the trooper started off at daybreak, so as to ge