He hobbled blithely through the garden gate,
And thought; "Thank God they had to amputate!"


RETURN OF THE HEROES

_A lady watches from the crowd,
Enthusiastic, flushed, and proud._

"Oh! there's Sir Henry Dudster! Such a splendid leader!
How pleased he looks! What rows of ribbons on his tunic!
Such dignity.... Saluting.... (_Wave your flag ... now, Freda!_)...
Yes, dear, I saw a Prussian General once,--at Munich.

"Here's the next carriage!... Jack was once in Leggit's Corps;
That's him!... I think the stout one is Sir Godfrey Stoomer.
They _must_ feel sad to know they can't win any more
Great victories!... Aren't they glorious men?... so full of humour!"




III


TWELVE MONTHS AFTER

Hullo! here's my platoon, the lot I had last year.
"The War'll be over soon."
"What 'opes?"