HILDA. They made it hard for you at college? WALLACE. I don't know how to tell you. HILDA. I understand. The flag waving, the patriotic speeches, the billboards advertising the glory of war, the call of adventure offered to youth, the pressure of your friends--all made it hard for you to be called a slacker. WALLACE, No, mother. I wasn't afraid of what they could call me. That was easy. HILDA (_proudly_). You are your father's son! WALLACE. Mother, I can't stand the thought of killing, you know that. And I couldn't forget all you've told me. That's why I've had to think this out all these months alone; why I've hesitated longer than most fellows. The only thing I was really afraid of was being wrong. But now I know I'm right and I'm going clean through to the limit. HILDA. As your father said, I 'll stand by you--whatever it is--if only you feel it's right. WALLACE. Will you? Will you, mother? No matter what happens? (_She nods._) I knew you would. (_Taking her hand_) Then, mother, listen. I've volunteered. HILDA (_shocked_). Volunteered! WALLACE. Yes. I leave for training-camp to-night. HILDA. To-night? WALLACE. Yes, mother. Once I made up my mind, I couldn't wait to be drafted. I wanted to offer myself. I didn't want to be made to go. HILDA (_hardly grasping it_). But you are too young. WALLACE. I lied about my age. You and father can stop me if you tell the truth. That's why I've come back. I want you to promise you won't tell. HILDA. _You_ ask me to aid you in what I don't believe? WALLACE. But you said you'd stick by me if _I_ thought it was right. HILDA. But-- WALLACE (_with fervor_). And I tell you, mother, I do feel it was right for America to go in. I see now we ought to have declared war when they crushed Belgium. Yes; we ought to have gone in when the Lusitania was sunk. But we've been patient. The President tried to keep us out of it until we _had_ to go in to save our self-respect. We had to go in to show we were men of honor, not pussy-cats. We had to go in to show the world the Stars and Stripes wasn't a dish-rag on which the Germans could dry their bloody hands! HILDA (_gazing at him incredulously_). You hate them as much as that? WALLACE. Hate? No, mother, no. (_As if questioning himself_) I really haven't any hate for the German _people_. People are just people everywhere, I suppose, and they're tricked and fooled by their rotten government, as the President says. HILDA. Then why fight them? WALLACE. Because they're standing back of their government, doing what it says. And they've got to be licked to show them what kind of a government they have. HILDA. At least you have no hate in your heart--that's something.