"I see,—that means quarrelsome."
"And hopeless."
"Bad,—very! belligerent and hopeless! When you go into a fight always expect to win; the thought is half the victory."
"Suppose you are an atom against the universe?" "Don't fight, succumb. There's a proverb,—a wise one,—Napoleon's, 'God is on the side of the strongest battalions.'"
"A lie,—exploded at Waterloo. There's another proverb, 'One on the side of God is a majority.' How about that?"
"Transcendental humbug."
"A truth demonstrated at Wittenberg."
"Are you aching for the martyr's palm?"
"I am afraid not. On the whole, I think I'd rather enjoy life than quarrel with it. But"—with a sudden blaze—"I feel to-day like fighting the world."
"Hey, presto! what now, young'un?"