But I daresay your mother
would beam if you called me "dear father"'
'I don't think so?'
'You know quite well that you think so, Roger.'
'It's so effeminate.'
'Not if you say it casually.'
With something very like a snort Roger asks, 'How does one say a thing
like that casually?'
'Well, for instance, you could whistle while you said it--or anything of
that sort.'
'Hum. Of course you--if we were to--be like that, you wouldn't do
anything.'
'How do you mean?'
'You wouldn't paw me?'
'Roger,' with some natural indignation, 'you forget yourself.' But
apparently it is for him to continue. 'That reminds me of a story I
heard the other day of a French general. He had asked for volunteers
from his airmen for some specially dangerous job--and they all stepped
forward. Pretty good that. Then three were chosen and got their orders
and saluted, and were starting off when he stopped them. "Since when,"
he said, "have brave boys departing to the post of danger omitted to
embrace their father?" They did it then. Good story?'
Roger lowers. 'They were French.
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