Half-an-hour later he presented it to little Elizabeth, who received it with a cry of delight, and, jumping on to his knee, kissed him effusively on both cheeks. Young Harding adored children, but felt as guilty at these German kisses as though he had betrayed his country and his faith.
One thing which acted in favour of the Germans was the lack of manners displayed by some young English officers in the hotels, restaurants, and shops. In all armies there are cads, and ours was not without them, though they were rare. The conditions of our military occupation with absolute authority over the civilian people provided a unique opportunity for the caddish instincts of "half-baked" youth. They came swaggering into Cologne determined to "put it across the Hun" and "to stand no nonsense." So they bullied frightened waiters, rapped their sticks on shop-counters, insulted German shop-girls, and talked loudly about "Hunnish behaviour" in restaurants where many Germans could hear and understand.
Harding, Fortune and I were in the Domhof Hotel when one such scene occurred. A group of noisy subalterns were disputing the cost of their meal and refusing to pay for the wine.
"You stole all the wine in Lille," shouted one lieutenant of ours. "I'm damned if I'll pay for wine in Cologne."
"I stole no wine in Lille, sir," said the waiter politely. "I was never there."
"Don't you insult English officers," said one of the other subalterns. "We are here to tread on your necks."
Fortune looked at me and raised his eye-brows.
"It isn't a good imitation," he said. "If they want to play the game of frightfulness, they really ought to
