When we meet next August the resolution will
be unanimous. Take it from me. You've read of your last war in some old
history book. Peace from now on, and thank the socialists."
"I should. But suppose Germany should declare war before next August?"
"She won't. She ain't ready. She'd have done it after that there 'Agadir
Incident' if she'd dared. That is to say been good and ready. Now she's got
to wait for another good excuse and there ain't one in sight."
"But you believe she'd like to precipitate a war in Europe for her own
purposes?"
"She'd like it all right." And he quoted freely from Treitschke and
Bernhardi, while Alexina as ever looked at him in wonder. He seemed to be
more deeply read every time she met him, and he remained exactly the same
James Kirkpatrick. "What an adventitious thing breeding was! Mortimer had
it!"
"Well, I am glad I spoke of it. You have relieved my mind, for you speak
as one with authority....There is something else I want to talk to you
about....A friend of mine is in a dilemma and I don't quite know how to
advise her....We're all such a silly set of moths--"
"No moth about you!" interrupted Mr. Kirkpatrick firmly. "Some of
them--those others, if you like. The only redeeming virtue I can see in
most of them is that they are what they are and don't give a damn. But
you--you've got more brains and common sense than the whole bunch of women
in this town put together.
Pages:
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277