R.C. SHERRIFF: Journey's End Read this extract, and then answer the question that follows it: Osborne: He's a fine company commander. Raleigh: I bet he is. Last time he was on leave he came down to the school; he'd just got his M.C. and been made captain. He looked splendid! It – sort of – made me feel — Osborne: keen? Raleigh: Yes. Keen to get out here. I was frightfully keen to get into Dennis's regiment. I thought, perhaps, with a bit of luck I might get to the same battalion. 5 Osborne: It's a big fluke to have got to the same company. Raleigh: I know. It's an amazing bit of luck. When I was at the base I did an awful thing. You see, my uncle's at the base – he has to detail officers to regiments — 10 Osborne: General Raleigh? Raleigh: Yes. I went to see him on the quiet and asked him if he could get me into this battalion. He bit my head off, and said I'd got to be treated like everybody else — 15 Osborne: Yes? Raleigh: — and next day I was told I was coming to this battalion. Osborne: Funny, wasn't it? Extraordinary coincidence! 20 Raleigh: And when I got to Battalion Headquarters, and the colonel told me to report to “C” Company, I could have cheered. I expect Dennis'll be frightfully surprised to see me. I've got a message for him. Osborne: From the colonel? 25 Raleigh: No. From my sister. Osborne: Your sister? Raleigh: Yes. You see, Dennis used to stay with us, and naturally my sister [he hesitates] – well – perhaps I ought not. Osborne: That's all right. I didn't actually know that Stanhope — 30 Raleigh: They're not - er – officially engaged — Osborne: No? Raleigh: She'll be awfully glad I'm with him here; I can write and tell her all about him. He doesn't say much in his letters; can we write often? 35 Osborne: Oh, yes. Letters are collected every day. There is a pause. Raleigh: You don't think Dennis'll mind my – sort of - forcing myself into his company? I never thought of that; I was so keen. Osborne: No, of course he won't. [Pause] You say it's – it's a good time since you last saw him? 40 Raleigh: Let's see. It was in the summer last year – nearly a year ago. Osborne: You know, Raleigh, you mustn't expect to find him – quite the same. 45 Raleigh: Oh? Osborne: You see, he's been out here a long time. It – it tells on a man – rather badly - Raleigh: [thinking] Yes, of course, I suppose it does. Osborne: You may find he's – he's a little bit quick-tempered. 50 Raleigh: [laughing] Oh, I know old Dennis's temper! I remember once at school he caught some chaps in a study with a bottle of whisky. Lord! the roof nearly blew off. He gave them a dozen each with a cricket stump. Osborne laughs. 55 Osborne: He was so keen on the fellows in the house keeping fit. He was frightfully down on smoking – and that sort of thing. You must remember he's commanded this company for a long time - through all sorts of rotten times. It's – it's a big strain on a man. 60 Raleigh: Oh, it must be. Osborne: If you notice a difference in Stanhope – you'll know it's only the strain – Raleigh: Oh, yes. How do you think Sherriff's writing conveys the tension below the surface in this conversation?