"He is over twenty, and, as to gravity--well, most young fellows would be grave enough if they had to leave a pretty young wife after six months of wedded life.  You see, he married without leave, and so, even if it were a time of peace, his wife would not be recognised by the service.  In wartime he must of course leave her behind him.  It has been a hard job to prevent him from deserting, and now it's all I can do to divert his attention from his sorrow by stirring him up with tales of the recent wars."