PRESS. [Writing] "Lord William thought dogma had got the knock." I should like you just to develop your definition of Christianity. "Loving--kindness" strikes rather a new note. LORD W. New? What about the Sermon on the Mount? PRESS. [Writing] "Refers to Sermon on Mount." I take it you don't belong to any Church, Lord William? LORD W. [Exasperated] Well, really--I've been baptised and that sort of thing. But look here---- PRESS. Oh! you can trust me--I shan't say anything that you'll regret. Now, do you consider that a religious revival would help to quiet the country? LORD W. Well, I think it would be a deuced, good thing if everybody were a bit more kind. PRESS. Ah! [Musing] I feel that your views are strikingly original, Lord William. If you could just open out on them a little more? How far would you apply kindness in practice? LORD W. Can you apply it in theory? PRESS. I believe it is done. But would you allow yourself to be blown up with impunity? LORD W. Well, that's a bit extreme. But I quite sympathise with this chap. Imagine yourself in his shoes. He sees a huge house, all these bottles; us swilling them down; perhaps he's got a starving wife, or consumptive kids. PRESS. [Writing and murmuring] Um-m! "Kids." LORD W. He thinks: "But for the grace of God, there swill I. Why should that blighter have everything and I nothing?" and all that. PRESS. [Writing] "And all that." [Eagerly] Yes? LORD W. And gradually--you see--this contrast--becomes an obsession with him. "There's got to be an example made," he thinks; and--er-- he makes it, don't you know? PRESS. [Writing] Ye-es? And--when you're the example? LORD W. Well, you feel a bit blue, of course. But my point is that you quite see it. PRESS. From the other world. Do you believe in a future life, Lord William? The public took a lot of interest in the question, if you remember, at the time of the war. It might revive at any moment, if there's to be a revolution. LORD W. The wish is always father to the thought, isn't it? PRESS. Yes! But--er--doesn't the question of a future life rather bear on your point about kindness? If there isn't one--why be kind? LORD W. Well, I should say one oughtn't to be kind for any motive-- that's self-interest; but just because one feels it, don't you know. PRESS. [Writing vigorously] That's very new--very new! LORD W. [Simply] You chaps are wonderful. PRESS. [Doubtfully] You mean we're--we're---- LORD W. No, really. You have such a d---d hard time. It must be perfectly beastly to interview fellows like me. PRESS. Oh! Not at all, Lord William. Not at all. I assure you compared with a literary man, it's--it's almost heavenly. LORD W. You must have a wonderful knowledge of things. PRESS. [Bridling a little] Well--I shouldn't say that. LORD W. I don't see how you can avoid it. You turn your hands to everything. PRESS. [Modestly] Well--yes, Yes.