tuation of aimlessness in a
phase of ruin to which the Great War had brought all Europe, if not all
mankind. The world excited them both in the same way; as a crisis in
which they were called upon to do something--they did not yet clearly
know what. Into this topic they peered as into some deep pool, side by
side, and in it they saw each other reflected.

The visit to Avebury had been a great success. It had been a
perfect springtime day, and the little inn had been delighted at the
reappearance of Sir Richmond's car so soon after its departure. Its
delight was particularly manifest in the cream and salad it produced
for lunch. Both Miss Grammont and Miss Seyffert displayed an intelligent
interest in their food. After lunch they had all gone out to the stones
and the wall. Half a dozen sunburnt children were putting one of the
partially overturned megaliths to a happy use by clambering to the top
of it and sliding on their little behinds down its smooth and sloping
side amidst much mirthful squealing.

Sir Richmond and Miss Grammont had walked round the old circumvallation
together, but Belinda Seyffert had strayed away from them, professing
an interest in flowers. It was not so much that she felt they had to be
left together that made her do this as her own consciousness of being
possessed by a devil who interrupted conversations.

When Miss Grammont was keenly interested in a conversation, then Belinda
had learnt from experience that it was wiser to go off with her devil
out of the range of any temptation to interrupt.

"You really think," said Miss Grammont, "that it would be possible to
take this confused old world and reshape it, set it marching towards
that new world of yours--of two hundred and fifty million fully
developed, beautiful and happy people?"

"Why not? Nobody is doing anything with the world except muddle about.
Why not give it a direction?"

"You'd take it in your hands like clay?"

"Obdurate clay with a sort of recalcitrant, unintelligent life of its
own."

Her imagination glowed in her eyes and warmed her voice. "I believe what
you say is possible. If people dare."

"I am tired of following little motives that are like flames that go out
when you get to them. I am tired of seeing all the world doing the
same. I am tired of a world in which there is nothing great but great
disasters. Here is something mankind can attempt, that we can attempt."

"And will?"

"I believe that as Mankind g