human
Very big family this you've got,
gpt
Oh, they're not my family.
human
Only visitors?
gpt
Darned good visitors, said he,
human
Refugees--
gpt
Yes, refugees, not one with a home. Not one who has not lost her husband, her son or her grandson. Not one who has not lost every bit of small property, but her clothes as well. You think that I am doing something to help? Well, that is not much. I'm lucky with the few I have. There's my old neighbor over yonder on the hill. He owns five acres and has a two-roomed shack and he keeps eleven.
human
And how long do you expect them to stay?
gpt
Why, laddie, said he.
human
Stay--how should I know? I was talking to an officer the other day and he told me he believed the first ten years of this war would be the worst. They are free and welcome to stay all that time, and longer if need be. They are my people. They are Belgians. We have not much. My savings are going rapidly, but we have set a few potatoes --he waved his hand over to where four of the old women were hoeing the ground.
gpt
We get bread and a little soup; we have enough to wear for now. We shall manage.