THE TRUCE Tommy was in a bad temper with everyone--a most unusual state of affairs.

The weather was improving every day; the rains were nearly over.

He was practically well again, too well to be sent to Bhulwana on sick leave, as Ralston brutally told him; but it was not this fact that had upset his internal equilibrium.

He did not want sick leave, and bluntly said so.
"Then what the devil do you want ?" said Ralston, equally blunt and ready to resent irritation from one who in his opinion was too highly favoured of the gods to have any reasonable grounds for complaint.
Tommy growled an inarticulate reply.

It was not his intention to confide in Ralston whatever his grievance.