@@@@war, Major Guthrie, who has now been under my
@@@@care for fourteen weeks.
@@@@
@@@@"I wish to assure you that he has had the very
@@@@highest medical skill bestowed on him since he came
@@@@here. Owing to the exceptional exigencies and strain
@@@@put on our Medical Service at the Front, he did not
@@@@perhaps obtain the care to which he was entitled by
@@@@our merciful and humane usages of war, as soon as
@@@@would have been well. He received a most serious
@@@@wound in the shoulder. That wound, I am pleased
@@@@to tell you, is in as good a state as possible, and will
@@@@leave no ill-effects.
@@@@
@@@@"But I regret to tell you, Madam, that Major
@@@@Guthrie has lost his eyesight. He bears this misfortune
@@@@with remarkable fortitude. As a young man
@@@@I myself spent a happy year in Edinburgh, and so we
@@@@have agreeable subjects of conversation. He tells
@@@@me you are quite familiar with my language, or I
@@@@should of course have written to you in English.
@@@@
@@@@"Believe me, Madam,
@@@@
@@@@"To remain with the utmost respect,
@@@@
@@@@"Yours faithfully,
@@@@
@@@@"Karl Brecht."

Underneath the signature of the doctor was written
in hesitating, strange characters the words in English,
@@@@"God bless you. -- Alexander Guthrie."

And then, under these five words, came another
sentence in German:

@@@@"I may tell you for your consolation that it is
@@@@extremely probable that Major Guthrie will be exchanged
@@@@in the course of the next few weeks. But I
@@@@have said nothing of that to him, for it will depend

[[273]]

p272 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p273w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p274

v?