That’s as it should be, they tell us. A certain percentage, they tell us, must every year go . . . that way . . . to the devil, I suppose, so that the rest may remain chaste, and not be interfered with. A percentage! What splendid words they have; they are so scientific, so consolatory. . . . Once you’ve said ‘percentage’ there’s nothing more to worry about. If we had any other word . . . maybe we might feel more uneasy. .
