"I am sure that not even the chief surgeon of the army would be treated with anything like the same respect, and, indeed, no one would recognize him at all, if he were not in uniform." The doctor seemed to pay no attention to what was passing round him, but was muttering angrily to himself.

It was not until they dashed out into the open country that he seemed to remember Charlie's presence at his side.
"These people are enough to vex one of the saints, by their stupidity," he said.

"Unless they have some one standing behind them with a whip, they cannot be trusted to do what they are told.
It is not that they are not willing, but that they are stupid.

No one would believe that people could be so stupid.

They drive me well nigh to madness sometimes, and it is the more irritating because, against stupidity, one is powerless.