Read this extract, and then answer the question that follows it: Stanhope: (as he takes off his pack, gas satchel, and belt) Has Hardy gone? Osborne: Yes. He cleared off a few minutes ago. Stanhope: Lucky for him he did. I had a few words to say to Master Hardy . You never saw the blasted mess those fellows left the trenches in. Dug-outs smell like cesspits; rusty bombs; damp rifle grenades; it’s perfectly foul. Where are the servants? 5 Osborne: In there. Stanhope: (calling into Mason’s dug-out) Hi! Mason! Mason: (outside) Coming, sir! Just bringing the soup, sir. Stanhope: (taking a cigarette from his case and lighting it) Damn the soup! Bring 10 some whisky! Osborne: Here’s a new officer, Stanhope - just arrived. Stanhope: Oh, sorry. (He turns and peers into the dim corner where Raleigh stands smiling awkwardly.) I didn’t see you in this miserable light. (He stops short at the sight of Raleigh. There is silence.) 15 Raleigh: Hullo, Stanhope! Stanhope stares at Raleigh as though dazed. Raleigh takes a step forward, half raises his hand, then lets it drop to his side. Stanhope: (in a low voice) How did you get here? Raleigh: I was told to report to your company, Stanhope. 20 Stanhope: Oh. I see. Rather a coincidence. Raleigh: (with a nervous laugh) Yes. There is a silence for a moment; broken by Osborne in a matter-of- fact voice. Osborne: I say, Stanhope, it’s a terrible business. We thought we’d got a tin of pineapple chunks; it turns out to be apricots. 25 Trotter: Ha! Give me apricots every time! I ‘ate pineapple chunks; too bloomin’ sickly for me! Raleigh: I’m awfully glad I got to your company, Stanhope. Stanhope: When did you get here? Raleigh: Well, I’ve only just come. 30 Osborne: He came up with the transport while you were taking over. Stanhope: I see. Mason brings in a bottle of whisky, a mug, and two plates of soup – so precariously that Osborne has to help with the soup plates on to the table. 35 Stanhope: (with a sudden forced gaiety) Come along, Uncle! Come and sit here. (He waves towards the box on the right of the tab le.) You better sit there, Raleigh. Raleigh: Right! 40 Trotter: (taking a pair of pince-nez from his tunic pocket, putting them on, and looking curiously at Raleigh) You Raleigh? Raleigh: Yes. Pause. 45 Trotter: I’m Trotter. Raleigh: Oh, yes? Pause. Trotter: How are you? Raleigh: Oh, all right, thanks. Trotter: Been out ’ere before? 50 Raleigh: No. Trotter: Feel a bit odd, I s’pose? Raleigh: Yes. A bit. Trotter: (getting a box to sit on) Oh, well, you’ll soon get used to it; you’ll feel you’ve been ’ere a year in about an hour’s time. (He puts the box on its side and sits on it. It is too lo w for the table, and he puts it on its end. It is then too high. He tries the other side, which is too low; he finally contrives to make himself comfortable by sitting on his pack, placed on the side of the box.) 55 60 Mason arrives with two more plates of soup. Osborne: What kind of soup is this, Mason? Mason: It’s yellow soup, sir. Osborne: It’s got a very deep yellow flavour. Trotter: (taking a melodious sip) It wants some pepper; bring some pepper, Mason. 65 Mason: (anxiously) I’m very sorry, sir. When the mess box was packed the pepper was omitted, sir. Trotter: (throwing his spoon with a clatter into the plate) Oh, I say, but damn it! Osborne: We must have pepper. It’s a disinfectant. 70 Trotter: You must have pepper in soup! Stanhope: (quietly) Why wasn’t it packed, Mason? Mason: It – it was missed, sir. Stanhope: Why? Mason: (miserably) Well, sir, I left it to – 75 Stanhope: Then I advise you never to leave it to anyone else again — unless you want to rejoin your platoon out there. (He points into the moonlit trench.) Explore how Sherriff makes the various reactions to Raleigh’s arrival so dramatic at this point in the play.