I had learned a little about writing from Soldier's Pay - how to approach language$$$ words: not with seriousness so much as an essayist does$$$ but with a kind of alert respect$$$ as you approach dynamite; even with joy$$$ as you approach women: perhaps

I had learned a little about writing from Soldier's Pay - how to approach language$$$ words: not with seriousness so much as an essayist does$$$ but with a kind of alert respect$$$ as you approach dynamite; even with joy$$$ as you approach women: perhaps with the same secretly unscrupulous intentions.