Mr Standfast (John Buchan, 1919)

I took the train three days later from King’s Cross toEdinburgh. I went to the Pentland Hotel in Princes Street and left there asuit-case containing some clean linen and a change of clothes.  I had been thinking the thing out, and hadcome to the conclusion that I must have a base somewhere and a fresh outfit.  Then, in well-worn tweeds and with no moreluggage than a small trench kit-bag, I descended upon the city of Glasgow.

 

        I walked tothe station which Blenkiron had given me. It was a hot summer evening, and the streets were filled with bareheadedwomen and weary-looking artisans.  As Imade my way down the Dumbarton Road I was amazed at the number of able-bodiedfellows about, considering that you couldn’t stir a mile on any British frontwithout bumping up against a Glasgow battalion. Then I realized that there were such things as munitions and ships, andI wondered no more.

John Buchan:  Chapter 36 ("Andrew Amos").  
Excerpt from Mr Standfast.  London, Hodder & Stoughton, 1919