An oddly defiant note had crept into the last sentence.
'He looks down--out of spirits.

Didn't he lose nearly all his friends at Neuve Chapelle ?' 'Yes, some of his best friends.' 'And half the battalion! He always cared enormously about his men.

He and I, you know, fought in South Africa together.

Of course then he was just a young subaltern.

He's a splendid chap! I'm afraid he won't get to the front again.