"Well," I replied evasively, "it's difficult to say, because people in England who talk, don't think; and people who think, don't talk."
"Well, do you think when the war is over there will be any hard feeling? Do you think things will settle down, and we shall be able to live there again as we did before?"
"Well, that depends upon the people's feelings after the war."
"You know, we cannot understand the English people; you are very hard to understand, the way you do things."
"How so?"
"Well, look at the way you have got your army together. It's marvellous; we all admit it. It surprised us.
"Look at your colonies. We thought Canada and Australia would break away; or at the very best, would not send over more than about 50,000 men.
"But what we cannot understand is why a country which can organise and handle such an enormous army, is unable to manage its civilian population."
"In what way do you mean?"
"Well, look at Ireland; fancy allowing that sort of thing! And the strikes you have! You build an army, and then allow your people to hinder it by striking."