human
Well, my dear Mary, you agree with me?
gpt
About the necessity of getting men--yes. But I am not so sanguine as you, Geoffrey, about the patriotism in our village.
human
Bless my soul!
gpt
I think Mr. Hamlin shares my apprehensions.
human
I do,
gpt
I was talking, this afternoon, with Susan Yellam. She looks ahead. She faces facts, as we do. But she knows the village better than we do.
human
My dear----!
gpt
I have been talking, too, with Ben.
human
So have I, Mary; so have I.
gpt
Are you quite sure, Geoffrey, that you have been talking with Ben, and not at him? He is too courteous to interrupt you and too kind to contradict you.
human
What does old Ben say to you?
gpt
What Susan Yellam says. The villagers, generally, believe that our present army and navy can beat a world in arms against us. You disabused them of that this evening, but Captain Davenant undid some of your stitches.
human
The old boy let them have it straight from the shoulder.
gpt
Exactly. Personally, I deplore such methods.
human
Sheep have to be yapped into the fold.
gpt
I wonder if Mr. Hamlin thinks so?
human
I have never been able to regard men and women as animals. I admit a superficial similarity. Dogs are nearest to us, but what an Atlantic stretches between us and them! Would any training turn a Pekinese into a pointer? Or a pug into a greyhound? But you can train any child, of any nationality, into what you reasonably please, provided always that you are dealing with a sound mind in a sound body. Sheep, under certain conditions, have to be yapped into folds, because they are sheep. The Prussian system yaps men into the ranks. I would sooner try other methods.
gpt
Try your own methods, Hamlin, and good luck to you.
human
I shall try them next Sunday.
gpt
You don't say so? From the pulpit?
human
Why not?
gpt
I approve with all my heart.