at the Front, and for some days we were rather apologetic in our attitude
towards him, as, what with the War and our own anxieties, we had shown
some indifference to Baxendale's nerves.

But one day Jack Barnard turned up as a major in khaki, and said
something so rude to his brother-in-law, who was sitting in the corner
with Funkelstein, that the latter turned pale and left the room
hurriedly. It appeared afterwards that Jack had got his back up against
"that blighter Gilbert" because he hadn't done a thing for Dick, who had
been at Sandhurst, and was now with his regiment in France. "It wasn't as
though the selfish swine had kids of his own or some one else's whom he
cared about. Not a soul. Sickening, I call it. He didn't even say
good-bye to him or ask after him."

* * * * *

Later on Baxendale developed a habit of questioning every one as to what
they were doing. On one occasion he asked Postlethwaite, who runs a
convalescent home at Margate, if there was anything he could do down
there. Postlethwaite suggested that he might drive wounded soldiers down
to Margate in his car if he liked. Baxendale said he'd think it over, but
when Postlethwaite had gone he asked Peter Knott in confidence if he
didn't think it was taking advantage of people to mess up their cars like
that.

Another time he tackled old Colonel Bridge, who had been up all night
doing special constable duty, and was not in the sweetest of tempers.
When Baxendale asked him what he was doing he told him he'd better come
round to the police-station at three the next morning and see for
himself.