two men stand at the flowerbed, a younger man called william and an older, somewhat unsteady man who is unnamed. the older man talks about heaven and makes oblique references to the war. he then appears to mistake a woman for someone in his thoughts, and prepares to run off to her, but is apprehended by william who distracts the older man by pointing out a flower. the old man leans in close to the flower as if he is listening to a voice inside it. the older man talks on, william's stoical patience grows deeper.