"Yes, but the gymnasium is no more like this than—than a Christmas party is like a Sunday-school," May replied.
"Attention!" commanded the General.
"All right, sir," May responded, cheerfully.
"You need not reply; the soldier says nothing; he obeys," said the General.
"Oh, I suppose the officers do all the talking," said May, in direct defiance of the General's last remark. "But can't the soldier answer back at all?"
"No, not during drill," said the General.
"They must make it up when they're not drilling!" said May.
"Attention!" the General shouted. "Palms of the hands front, little fingers behind the seam of the trousers, chin drawn in, eyes front—eyes front, I say."
"Dear me, Uncle Harold, how can I keep my eyes front and see how my hands and fingers and feet are at the same time?" grumbled May.
"By practise; we will try it again," said the General.