WHITE (tapping letter).  But he thinks he knows the truth, too.

HILDA.  He’s also an intense nature.

WHITE (thoughtfully after a pause).  Yet there is some truth in what he says.

HILDA (smiling).  But you didn’t like it—­coming from him?

WHITE.  It will be different with you and me now that America’s gone in.

HILDA.  Yes.  It will be harder for us here; for hate is always farthest from the trenches.  But you and I are not the sort who would compromise to escape the persecution which is the resource of the non-combatant.

(The phone rings:  he looks at his watch.)

WHITE.  That’s for me.

HILDA.  Let me. (She goes.) It may be Wallace. (At phone) Yes:  this is 116 Chelsea.  Long Distance? (He starts as she says to him) It must be our boy. (At phone) Who?  Oh—­Mr. William White?  Yes:  he’ll be here. (She hangs up receiver.) She’ll ring when she gets the connection through.

WHITE (turning away).  It takes so long these days.

HILDA.  Funny he didn’t ask for me.

WHITE.  What made you think it was Wallace?

HILDA.  I took it for granted.  He must be having a hard time at college with all the boys full of war fever.

WHITE.  And a father with my record.

HILDA.  He should be proud of the example.  He has more than other boys to cling to these days when everybody is losing his head as the band plays and the flag is waved.  He won’t be carried away by it.  He’ll remember all we taught him.  Ah, Will, when I think we now have conscription—­as they have in Germany—­I thank God every night our boy is too young for the draft.

WHITE.  But when his time comes what will he do?

HILDA (calmly).  He will do it with courage.

WHITE (referring to her brother’s letter).  Either prison or acceptance!

HILDA.  I would rather have my son in prison than have him do what he felt was wrong.  Wouldn’t you?

WHITE (evasively).  We won’t have to face that problem for two years.

HILDA.  And when it comes—­if he falters—­I’ll give him these notes of that wonderful speech you made at the International Conference in 1910. (Picking it up) I was looking through it only this morning.

WHITE (troubled).  Oh, that speech.

HILDA (glancing through it with enthusiasm).  “All wars are imperialistic in origin.  Do away with overseas investments, trade routes, private control of ammunition factories, secret diplomacy—­”

WHITE.  Don’t you see that’s all dead wood?

HILDA (not heeding him).  This part gave me new strength when I thought of Wallace. (Reading with eloquence) “War will stop when young men put Internationalism above Nationality, the law of God above the dictates of statesmen, the law of love above the law of hate, the law of self-sacrifice above the law of profit.  There must be no boundaries in man’s thought.  Let the young men of the world once throw down their arms, let them once refuse to point their guns at human hearts, and all the boundaries of the world will melt away and peace will find a resting-place in the hearts of men!”