Paul. They came like a thunderstorm, Jeanne. They swept our men away. They tore up treaties, and they came through Belgium and ravished it, and took us unawares. They blotted out our frontiers and came on like the tide till even Paris heard the sound of German guns. And then the English came, slowly at first, and just a little late, but not too late, then more and more and all the time more English came. They swept the Germans from the seas and drove their ships to hide. Shoulder to shoulder they have fought for France. They hurled the Germans back from Paris, and when their soldiers fell more came and more. Their plowmen and their clerks, their great lords and their scullions, all came to France to fight with us for la patrie. Their women make munitions and—
Fred. Yus. I daresay. Very fine. Only that'll do. We ain't done nothing to make a song about.
Paul. Our children and our children's children will make songs of what the English did.
Fred. You let 'em. Leave it to 'em. Way I look at it is this, lady. There's a big swelled-headed bully, and he gets a little fellow down and starts kicking 'im. Well, it ain't manners, and we blokes comes along to teach 'im wot's wot. That's all there is to it.
Paul. There's more than I could tell in a hundred years, Jeanne.
Fred. Then what's the good of trying?
Jeanne. He tried because he had to make me understand your friendship and all the noble thought and noble deed that lie behind this little wreath. [She raises the wreath.]
Fred [interposing]. Oh, I say now, lady, go easy with that wreath, won't you? I—I wouldn't trample it if I were you. Battle of Waterloo's a long time ago.
Jeanne. Don't be afraid.
Fred. Gave me a turn to see you pick it up like that.