the service.

THE ORDERLY (deeply wounded). The service is a disgrace to me.
When my mother's people pass me in the street with this uniform
on, I ardly know which way to look. There never was a soldier in
my family before.

MITCHENER. There never was anything else in mine, sir.

THE ORDERLY. My mother's second cousin was one of the Parkinsons
of Stepney. (Almost in tears.) What do you know of the feelings
of a respectable family in the middle station of life? I cant
bear to be looked down on as a common soldier. Why cant my father
be let buy my discharge? Youve done away with the soldier's right
to have his discharge bought for him by his relations. The
country didnt know you were going to do that or it would never
have stood it. Is an Englishman to be made a mockery like
this?

MITCHENER. Silence. Attention. Right about face. March.

THE ORDERLY (retiring to the standing desk and bedewing it with
passionate tears). Oh that I should have lived to be spoke to as
if I was the lowest of the low. Me! that has shaved a City of
London aldermen wiv me own hand.

MITCHENER. Poltroon. Crybaby. Well, better disgrace yourself here
than disgrace your country on the field of battle.

THE ORDERLY (angrily coming to the table). Whos going to disgrace