Mary Roberts Rinehart

Name: Twenty-Three and a Half Hours' Leave — Chapter I
Author: Mary Roberts Rinehart

Twenty-Three and a Half Hours' Leave… (1918)

Summary

“Twenty-Three and a Half Hours' Leave — Chapter I”, published in 1918, is a work by Mary Roberts Rinehart. It explores elements such as Sergeant Gray, the Headquarters Troop and bran muffins.

Quotes from Twenty-Three and a Half Hours' Leave… (Mary Roberts Rinehart)

Mary Roberts Rinehart, Twenty-Three and a Half Hours' Leave… (1918)

“ There are only two things to be done when a general is angry: One is to get behind the furniture and pretend one is not there; the other is to distract his mind. The general's ire growing and the car remaining in the tunnel, an aide whom the general called Tommy when no one was near ventured to speak.
“Rather an amusing story going round, sir,” he said. “Woof! One of the sergeants in the Headquarters Troop has made a wager—woof!—woof, sir!—sir—that he——”
“I don't want to hear anything about the Headquarters Troop,” snarled the general. “Woof! Bunch of second-story workers!” ”

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Source: Wikisource

Mary Roberts Rinehart, Twenty-Three and a Half Hours' Leave… (1918)

“ He was, then, womanless. No one loved him. He was going to war, and no one would mourn him—except the family, of course. The effect of the tepid coffee on his empty stomach was merely to confirm his morning unhappiness. No one loved him and he had made a fool bet that by now was all over the troop.
At mess he knew what he stood committed to. “Please pass the bran muffins,” came loudly to his ears. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Mary Roberts Rinehart, Twenty-Three and a Half Hours' Leave… (1918)

“ By one o'clock in the afternoon the troop were ready to move. And Sergeant Gray went into the town. There he tried on a new uniform—and the story of Sergeant Gray's new uniform is the story of the bran muffins.
It was really a beautiful uniform. Almost it took away the sting of that telegram; almost it obliterated the memory of the wager. It spread over his broad shoulders and hugged his slim waist. The breeches were full above and close below. For the first time he felt every inch a soldier. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Mary Roberts Rinehart, Twenty-Three and a Half Hours' Leave… (1918)

“ But somewhat later, when the car had moved on and the general was smoking an excellent cigar, the general said: “What was the wager, Tommy?”
“I believe, sir, it is to the effect that within a month this fellow will breakfast with you, sir. To be exact, will eat a bran muffin with you.”
The general exhaled a large mouthful of smoke.
“C'est la guerre!” he said. He had been studying French for two weeks. “C'est la guerre, Tommy. Queer things happen these days. But I think it unlikely. Very, very unlikely.” ”

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Source: Wikisource

Mary Roberts Rinehart, Twenty-Three and a Half Hours' Leave… (1918)

“ He dreamed that the general was carrying a plate of bran muffins to his bedside, and behind him was a pretty girl with coffee and an ear like an interrogation point. He wakened to find breakfast over and the cook in a bad temper.
“Be a sport, Watt,” he pleaded. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Mary Roberts Rinehart, Twenty-Three and a Half Hours' Leave… (1918)

“ And as the train moved out the car took up that message of the artillery when a gun is fired. “On the way!” they yelled. “On the way! Bran muffin Number One on the way.”
“Been pretty busy, haven't you?” he asked when at last the train had settled down to comparative quiet and the second mess sergeant was beside him.
“Not half as busy as you'll have to be if you're going to make good.”
However, the troop's attention, fickle as the love of the mob, turned at last away from him and focused on the coloured porter. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Mary Roberts Rinehart, Twenty-Three and a Half Hours' Leave… (1918)

“ They were ready to move. No more drill on hot and dusty parade grounds. No more long hikes. No more digging and shoveling and pushing of wagon trains out of the mud. No more infantry range, where a chap in the pit waved a red flag every time dust in a fellow's eyes caused a miss, and the men round hissed “Raspberry!” ”

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Source: Wikisource

Mary Roberts Rinehart, Twenty-Three and a Half Hours' Leave… (1918)

“ Lay you two dollars to one I'm asleep before you are.”
“Go to the devil!” said the second mess sergeant peevishly.
“Never had breakfast with the Old Man, did you?” inquired Sergeant Gray, beginning on his forefinger with another girl's face.
There was no reply to his question. The second mess sergeant was completely immersed in beans.
“Think the Old Man likes me,” went on Sergeant Gray meditatively. “It's about a week now since he told me I was a disgrace to the uniform. How'd I know I was going to sneeze in his horse's ear just as he was climbing on?” ”

Mary Roberts Rinehart

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Quotes from Twenty-Three and a Half Hours' Leave… (Mary Roberts Rinehart)

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