“They be blowed!” said Penfentenyou. “What's the good of sentiment towards a Kindergarten?”
“Quite so. Ties of common funk are the things that bind us together; and the sooner you new nations realize it the better. What you need is an annual invasion. Then you'd grow up.”
“Thank you! Thank you!” said the Agent-General. “That's what I am always trying to tell my people.”
“But, my dear fool,” Penfentenyou almost wept, “do you pretend that these banana-fingered amateurs at home are grown up?”
“You poor, serious, pagan man,” I retorted, “if you take 'em that way, you'll wreck your Great Idea.”
“Will you take him to Lord Lundie's to-morrow?” said the Agent-General promptly.
“I suppose I must,” I said, “if you won't.”
“Not me! I'm going home,” said the Agent-General, and departed. I am glad that I am no colony's Agent-General.
Penfentenyou continued to argue about naval contributions till 1.15 A.M., though I was victor from the first.