might have had them put into paper-bags, and distributed with pounds of tea?' suggested Teddy. 'Why not?'

'But I don't see how it affects the present situation at all,' I argued. 'We are surely much wiser now than we were three years ago.'

'Well—let's hope so,' laughed the colonel. 'But that speech is full of grim humour—is it not?'

And with that we were compelled to agree.