will indorse all your minister said. He
will doubtless go much further."

"What did he say, Jane?" inquired Jack.

"He was greatly in earnest and he urged preparation by Canada. He thinks
we ought at the very least to begin getting our fleet ready right away."

"That's politics, of course," said Mrs. Waring-Gaunt, "and I do not know
what you are."

"I am not sure that I do either," she replied, "but I believe too that
Canada ought to get at her fleet without loss of time."

"But what did he say about Germany?" continued Jack.

"I can't tell you everything, of course, but he assured us that Germany
had made the greatest possible preparation, that the cities, towns and
villages were full of drilling men; that there were great stores of war
material, guns and shells, everywhere throughout Germany; that they were
preparing fleets of Zeppelins and submarines too; that they were ready
to march at twenty-four hours' notice; that the whole railroad system
of Germany was organised, was really built for war; that within the last
few years the whole nation had come to believe that Germany must go to
war in order to fulfil her great destiny. Father says that this is all
foolish talk, and that all this war excitement is prompted chiefly by
professional soldiers, like Lord Roberts and others, and by armament
makers like the Armstrongs and the Krupps."

"What do you think about it all, Jane?" inquired Jack, looking at her
curiously.

"Well, he had spent some months in Germany and had taken pains to
inquire of all kinds of people, officers and professors and preachers
and working people and politicians, and so I think he ought to know
better than others who just read books and the newspapers, don't you
think so?"

"I think you are entirely right, and I hope that minister of yours will
deliver that lecture in many places throughout this country, for there
are not many people, even in England, who believe in the reality of the
German menace. But this is my hobby, my sister says, and I don't want to
bore you."

"But I am really interested, Mr. Romayne. Papa laughs at me, and Larry
too. He does not believe in the possibility of war. But I think that if
there is a chance, even the slightest chance, of it being true, it is
so terrible that we all ought to be making preparation to defend
ourselves."

"Well, if it won't bore you," said Jack, "I shall tell you a few
things."

"Then excuse me," said Mrs. Waring-Gaunt. "I have so