I could polish off a dozen of 'em myself with both hands tied behind my back ! '' `` I am told , '' said Susan , `` that old Mr. Pryor does not believe in this war . I am told that he says England went into it just because she was jealous of Germany and that she did not really care in the least what happened to Belgium . '' `` I believe he 's been talking some such rot , '' said Norman . `` I have n't heard him . When I do , Whiskers-on-the-moon wo n't know what happened to him . That precious relative of mine , Kitty Alec , holds forth to the same effect , I understand . Not before me , though -- somehow , folks do n't indulge in that kind of conversation in my presence . Lord love you , they 've a kind of presentiment , so to speak , that it would n't be healthy for their complaint . '' `` I am much afraid that this war has been sent as a punishment for our sins , '' said Cousin Sophia , unclasping her pale hands from her lap and reclasping them solemnly over her stomach . '' ` The world is very evil -- the times are waxing late . ' '' `` Parson here 's got something of the same idea , '' chuckled Norman . `` Have n't you , Parson ? That 's why you preached t ` other night on the text ` Without shedding of blood there is no remission of sins . ' I did n't agree with you -- wanted to get up in the pew and shout out that there was n't a word of sense in what you were saying , but Ellen , here , she held me down . I never have any fun sassing parsons since I got married . '' `` Without shedding of blood there is no anything , '' said Mr. Meredith , in the gentle dreamy way which had an unexpected trick of convincing his hearers . `` Everything , it seems to me , has to be purchased by self-sacrifice . Our race has marked every step of its painful ascent with blood . And now torrents of it must flow again .
No , Mrs. Crawford , I do n't think the war has been sent XXXXX a punishment for sin .
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