“He did try. Our C.O. laughed like the deuce when he heard the story. He hasn’t any time for schoolmasters. Besides, I’m sweet with his daughter.”

“He’ll mess up the examination for you.”

“I don’t care,” says Mittelstaedt calmly. “Besides, his complaint came to nothing because I could show that he had had hardly anything but light duty.”

“Couldn’t you polish him up a bit?” I ask.

“He’s too stupid, I couldn’t be bothered,” answers Mittelstaedt contemptuously.

What is leave?⁠—A pause that only makes everything after it so much worse. Already the sense of parting begins to intrude itself. My mother watches me silently; I know she counts the days; every morning she is sad. It is one day less. She has put away my pack, she does not want to be reminded by it.