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Kipling, Rudyard, 1865-1936

"Soldiers Three"


MRS. G. And that interests you?
CAPT. G. It's part of my profession, y'know, and my profession is a
good deal to me. Everything in a soldier's equipment is important, and
if we can improve that equipment, so much the better for the soldiers
and for us.
MRS.G. Who's 'us'?
CAPT. G. Jack and I; only Jack's notions are too radical. What's that
big sigh for, Minnie?
MRS. G. Oh, nothing--and you've kept all this a secret from me! Why?
CAPT. G. Not a secret, exactly, dear. I didn't say anything about it
to you because I didn't think it would amuse you.
MRS. G. And am I only made to be amused?
CAPT. G. No, of course. I merely mean that it couldn't interest you.
MRS. G. It's _your_ work and--and if you'd let me, I'd count all these
things up. If they are too heavy, you know by how much they are too
heavy, and you must have a list of things made out to your scale of
lightness, and--
CAPT. G. I have got both scales somewhere in my head; but it's hard
to tell how light you can make a headstall, for instance, until you've
actually had a model made.
MRS. G. But if you read out the list, I could copy it down, and pin
it up there just above your table.


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