GOING BACK.
"In these days," I began, but Francesca interrupted me.
"When anyone starts like that," she said, "I know he's going to make the War an excuse for doing something rather more paltry than usual."
"'Paltry' is not," I said, "a very nice word."
"I'll take the phrase back and substitute 'rather less noble and generous.'"
"Yes, I like that better. I'll pass it in that form as your comment on what you haven't yet allowed me to say."
"Quick," she said; "what was it? Don't leave me in suspense."
"In these days," I said, "one mustn't spend too much on railway companies."