“I never heard such rot. Why should mankind be represented by babies? Much better let them be represented by green peas or gooseberries.”
“Not at all. Mankind can only properly be represented by babies; mankind being in its infancy.”
“But it isn’t. It’s much older than vegetables.”
“It is not. Man was made last, and instead of developing into a reasonable, rational object, like a potato or a cabbage, he has strayed away into all manner of wild side-issues, and is still nothing but a very much perplexed infant.”
“And do you propose to try and help him to emulate the reasonable, rational condition of the potato and cabbage?”
“I propose to show him his inferiority to these delectable creations.”
“Then if he has any sense he will just duck you in the Serpentine and make you apologise. Personally I consider myself anything but a baby, and far superior to any of the cabbage tribe.”
“Ah!...” he cried gleefully. “You are actually proving my theory. I can’t explain now, but just wait till that book is written.”
“Are you taking rooms at Colney Hatch while you do it?”
“I have thought about it. You show more understanding in that remark than in any of the others.”