Girl.  Well, look here, ni-ice boy, what sort of world is it, where millions are being tortured, for no fault of theirs, at all?  A beautiful world, isn’t it?  ’Umbog!  Silly rot, as you boys call it.  You say it is all “Comrades” and braveness out there at the front, and people don’t think of themselves.  Well, I don’t think of myself veree much.  What does it matter?  I am lost now, anyway.  But I think of my people at ’ome; how they suffer and grieve.  I think of all the poor people there, and here, how lose those they love, and all the poor prisoners.  Am I not to think of them?  And if I do, how am I to believe it a beautiful world, ni-ice boy?

     [He stands very still, staring at her.]

Girl.  Look here!  We haf one life each, and soon it is over.  Well, I think that is lucky.

Young off.  No!  There’s more than that.

Girl. [Softly] Ah!  You think the war is fought for the future; you are giving your lives for a better world, aren’t you?

Young off.  We must fight till we win.

Girl.  Till you win.  My people think that too.  All the peoples think that if they win the world will be better.  But it will not, you know; it will be much worse, anyway.

     [He turns away from her, and catches up his cap.  Her voice
     follows him.]

Girl.  I don’t care which win.  I don’t care if my country is beaten.  I despise them all—­animals—­animals.  Ah!  Don’t go, ni-ice boy; I will be quiet now.

     [He has taken some notes from his tunic pocket; he puts then on
     the table and goes up to her.]

Young off.  Good-night.

Girl. [Plaintively] Are you really going?  Don’t you like me enough?

Young off.  Yes, I like you.

Girl.  It is because I am German, then?

Young off.  No.

Girl.  Then why won’t you stay?

Young off. [With a shrug] If you must know—­because you upset me.

Girl.  Won’t you kees me once?

     [He bends, puts his lips to her forehead.  But as he takes them
     away she throws her head back, presses her mouth to his, and
     clings to him.]

Young off. [Sitting down suddenly] Don’t!  I don’t want to feel a brute.

Girl. [Laughing] You are a funny boy; but you are veree good.  Talk to me a little, then.  No one talks to me.  Tell me, haf you seen many German prisoners?

Young off. [Sighing] A good many.

Girl.  Any from the Rhine?

Young off.  Yes, I think so.

Girl.  Were they veree sad?

Young off.  Some were; some were quite glad to be taken.

Girl.  Did you ever see the Rhine?  It will be wonderful to-night.  The moonlight will be the same there, and in Rooshia too, and France, everywhere; and the trees will look the same as here, and people will meet under them and make love just as here.  Oh! isn’t it stupid, the war?  As if it were not good to be alive!