hool age to
sixteen and then make all the boys go into training until they are
eighteen, you're going to make a big difficulty in the way of getting
skilled labour!"

"I don't think so. As far as I can make out the period of apprenticeship
is much too long. Five or six years is a ridiculous time to ask a boy to
spend in learning his job, and any trade unionist will tell you that
every apprentice spends the first year or two in acting as a sort of
messenger: fetching beer and cleaning up things. I suppose the real
reason why the period of indenture is so long is because the Unions
don't want to swamp the labour market with skilled workers. Well, why
shouldn't we reduce the period of apprenticeship by giving the boy a
military training? You see, don't you, what a problem this is? I thought
of talking about it to the Improved Tories, and when we'd argued it over
a bit, we'd put our proposals into print and circulate them among
informed people, and invite them to come and tell us what they think of
the notion from their point of view ... Trade Union secretaries and
military men and employers and people like that ... and then, we might
publish a book on it. Jaures wrote a book on the French Army ... a very
good book, too ... so there isn't anything remarkably novel about the
notion, except, perhaps, my idea of linking the military problem on to
the unemployment problem. You and Quinny could write the book, Gilbert,
because you've got style and we want the book to be written so that
people will read it without getting tied up. Of course, if you must go
to Ireland, you must, but it seems a little needless, doesn't it?"

"This business will take time," Gilbert replied. "Tons of time. I don't
think our visit to Ireland will affect it much. You'll come with me,
won't you, Quinny?"

Henry nodded his head. "At once, if you like," he answered, hoping
indeed that Gilbert would suggest an immediate departure. If Lady Cecily
were to hear that he had left London....

"To-night will do," said Gilbert.

2

"Are you going to work?" Gilbert said to Henry, when the others had
gone.

"I think so," Henry replied. "I haven't written a word for days. You?"

"I'll go and have a squint at the Pall Mall ... just to make sure that
last night wasn't a dream. I'll come back to lunch. It 'ud be rather
jolly to go on from Dublin and see your father, Quinny?"

"Yes ... that's a notion. I'll write and tell him we're coming. Bring
back the af