There are so few of us here, that we are always running against each other.

I won't ask you to dine with us, for a few days.

No doubt you would like to get accustomed to headquarters mess first.

Of course, Hunter and the brigade staff dine together; while we have little regimental messes among ourselves, which I prefer.

When there are only three or four of us, one can sit down in one's shirt sleeves, whereas at the brigade mess one must, of course, turn up in uniform, which in this climate is stifling." The meal was a more pleasant one than Gregory had anticipated.