(A pause.)
It seems like yesterday! It's hard to realize that he's a grown man,
fighting over there in the trenches, and that any moment I may get a
telegram, or be called to the telephone--Have you seen today's paper?
DR. JONATHAN. No.
ASHER. It looks like more bad news,--the Germans have started another
one of those offensives. I was afraid they were getting ready for it.
West of Verdun this time. And George may be in that sector, for all I
know. How is this thing going to end, Jonathan? That damned military
machine of theirs seems invincible--it keeps grinding on. Are we going
to be able to stem the tide, or to help stem it with a lot of raw youths.
They've only had a year's training.
DR. JONATHAN. Germany can't win, Asher.
ASHER. What makes you say that? We started several years too late.
Dr. JONATHAN. And Germany started several centuries too late.
ASHER. My God, I hope you're right. I don't know.
(He walks once or twice up and down the room..)
I've had another letter.
DR. JONATHAN. This morning?
ASHER. No--I got it before I left for Washington. But I didn't bring it
in to you I wanted to think about it.
(He draws the letter, together with a folded paper, from his pocket,
and lays the paper down on the bench.
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