"Why, Daisy, what makes you curious in
the matter? Have you a friend in the army?"
"No other but you," said Daisy.
"That is a kind speech. To reward you for it, I will tell you
anything you please. What is the question, Daisy?"
"I would like to know in what way soldiers have a hard time?"
"Well, Daisy, to begin with, a soldier can't do what he has a
mind."
"Not about anything?"
"Well — no; not unless he gets leave. I am only at Melbourne
now because I have got leave; and I must go when my leave is
up. A soldier does not belong to himself."
"To whom does he belong?"
"To his commander! He must go and come, do or not do things,
just as his General bids him; and ask no questions."
"Ask no questions?" said Daisy.
"No; only do what he is ordered."
"But why mayn't he ask questions?"
"That isn't his business. He has nothing to do with the reason
of things; all he has got to do is his duty. The _reason_ is his
General's duty to look after."
"But suppose he had a very good General — then that wouldn't
be much of a hardship," said Daisy.
"Well, that is a very material point," said the Captain.
"_Suppose_ he has a good General — as you say; that would make a
great difference, certainly.
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