"Yes, certainly."
"Well, then, I think you will find, uncle, that Guernsey is about twenty-six miles from France, and England is only twenty-one miles from France, between Calais and Dover."
"My mathematical master," said George, "has been trying to induce me to accept the axiom that 'if equals be multiplied by equals the products are equal.'"
"It is self-evident," pointed out Mr. Filkins. "For example, if 3 feet equal 1 yard, then twice 3 feet will equal 2 yards. Do you see?"
"But, Mr. Filkins," asked George, "is this tumbler half full of water equal to a similar glass half empty?"
"Certainly, George."
"Then it follows from the axiom that a glass full must equal a glass empty. Is that correct?"
"No, clearly not. I never thought of it in that light."
"Perhaps," suggested Mr. Allgood, "the rule does not apply to liquids."
"Just what I was thinking, Allgood. It would seem that we must make an exception in the case of liquids."