They were rather earnest about the tommies , and the threat of conscription , and the shortage of sugar and toffee for the children .
他们对于军队，对于征兵的恐吓，对于儿童们的糖与糖果的缺乏，是颇郑重其事的。
In all these things , of course , the authorities were ridiculously at fault . But clifford could not take it to heart . To him the authorities were ridiculous ab ovo , not because of toffee or tommies .
