"
"Orders may be given by a sign," I said. "They need not be in
words."
He smiled. "I see, you have studied the subject."
"I mean, only, that whenever a duty is plainly put before me —
something given me to do — I know I have 'orders' to do it.
And then, Mr. Thorold, as the orders are not spoken, nor
brought to me by a messenger, only made known to me by a sign
of some sort, — if I did not keep a good watch, I should be
sure to miss the sign sometimes, don't you see?"
"This is soldiership!" said Thorold. And getting up, he stood
before me in attitude like a soldier as he was, erect, still,
with arms folded, only not up to his chin like Captain
Percival, but folded manfully. He had been watching me very
intently; now he stood as intently looking off over the
further landscape. Methought I had a sort of pride in his fine
appearance; and yet he did in no wise belong to me.
Nevertheless it was pleasant to see, the firm, still attitude,
the fine proportions, the military nicety of all his dress,
which I had before noticed on the parade ground.
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