Colonel Wharton.
[Answering his son.] I don’t know what you mean by that. In war somebody’s got to be killed. When a commander gives battle he knows pretty accurately what his losses are going to be before he starts.
[John gives a slight shrug of the shoulders. He recovers his equanimity.
John.
If you don’t mind my saying so, I think we’d much better not start arguing. Arguments never bring one much forrader, do they?
Mrs. Wharton.
[Gently.] But we want to understand, John. You were always such a pious boy.
John.
[Smiling.] Oh, mother, that’s rather a terrible thing to say to anybody.
Mrs. Wharton.