"Some woman nagged 'im into it—if you ask me."

   "They do say 'e craves for peace with 'is whole mind."

   "Parson 'e says on Sunday as the hypocrit' cries for peace where there is no peace."

   "This war seems to take people out of their true selves, makin' of 'em ravenin' beasts."

   "Men, too, as otherwise acts quiet an' well-meanin' enough. You 'eard what Doctor done?"

   "What 'e done?"

   "Not to old Sally's son, Jim?"

   "'Im as 'urted 'is 'and blackberry time—a year ago this very month?"

   "'Im. Ill unto death, 'e were, with blood poisonin', and Doctor 'e says what a shockin' state 'is blood must 'ave been in for the poison to serve 'im so."

   "An' old Sally been a-keepin' of 'im ever since. 'Er needle been at it reg'lar, but 'ardly earnin' a livin' wage owin' to the meanness of them who 'as it to pay."

   "An' a poisoned and, when the worst be over, ain't no bar to the appetite."

   "Glad she's been to do it sooner than lose 'im, as she lost 'is brother with 'oopin'-cough."

   "That must be a matter of twenty-five year ago—before ever Jim was born."

   "You ain't told us yet, dear, what Doctor done."

   "I'm comin' to that. Jim, 'e's not without 'is uses an' 'e's more time, like, to read the paper than the other men. So 'e reads the news an' tells it all over at 'Plough an' 'Orses' nights, an' they do say the way 'e urges of the men to 'list is somethin' wonderful."

   "Not thinkin' of goin' 'isself, of course?"

   "Ain't 'e 'ad a poisoned 'and? Still, this 'e did; to a lot of chaps as 'eld back 'e says—'If you goes to Doctor to be examined I'll go with you,' 'e says—could a man do more? 'I tell you honest,' 'e says, 'that with my poor 'and I'm a man marked down for stayin' at 'ome, worse luck. What would I give,' 'e says, 'to go forth in the pride of 'ealth, same as you? Still, I'll go to Doctor with the rest of you, if only to show 'ow these things should be done.'"

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