"You just make a hobby of it?"
"Just that, sirr."
"Have you had much experience?"
"No that much."
"But you feel capable of taking on the job?"
"I do, sirr."
"You seem quite eager about it."
"Yes, sirr," said Dunshie, with gusto.
A sudden thought occurred to Ayling.
"Do you know what a chiropodist is?" he asked.
"No, sirr," replied Dunshie, with unabated aplomb.
* * * * *
To do him justice, the revelation of the nature of his prospective
labours made no difference whatever to Dunshie's willingness to
undertake them. Now, upon Saturday mornings, when men stand stiffly
at attention beside their beds to have their feet inspected, you may
behold, sweeping majestically in the wake of the Medical Officer as he
makes his rounds, the swelling figure of Private Dunshie, carrying the
implements of his gruesome trade. He has found his vocation at last,
and his bearing in consequence is something between that of a Court
Physician and a Staff Officer.
III
So much for the rank and file. Of the officers we need only say that
the old hands have been a godsend to our young regiment; while the
juniors, to quote their own Colonel, have learned as much in six
months as the average subaltern learns in three years; and whereas
in the old days a young officer could always depend on his platoon
sergeant to give him the right word of command or instruct him in
company routine, the positions are now in many cases reversed.
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