ouse, out o' which--if report's true--you'll be turned within a
week."

"Don't you listen to reports; no, nor spread 'em. Here, hand me over
my letter. . . . 'Turn me out,' will they? Go an' tell 'em they
can't do it--not if they was to bring all the king's horses and all
the king's men!"

"And _they_ be all gone to France. There! there! As I said to
myself only last night as I got into bed--'What a thing is War!'
I said, 'an' o' what furious an' rummy things consistin'--marches to
an' fro, short commons, shootin's of cannon, rapes, an' other
bloodthirsty goin's-on; an' here we be in the midst thereof!
That's calkilated to make a man _think_.' . . . But I must say," said
Lippity-Libby, eyeing the sky aloft, "the glass is goin' up stiddy,
an' _that's_ always a comfort."

As the old man took his departure, Nicky-Nan broke the seal of his
letter, opened it, and read--

To Nicholas Nanjivell,
R.N.R., Polpier.

Troy, August 3rd, 1914.

I am advised that you have failed to join the Royal Naval Reserve
Force called into Active Service under the Act 22 and 23 Vict. c. 40;
nor have you reported yourself at the Custom-House, St Martin's,
Cornwall, as required on the Active Service Paper, R.V. 53, duly
delivered to you.

Before filling up your description on Form R.V. 26a (R.N.R.
Absentees and Deserters) I desire that you will let me know the cause
of your non-compliance with H.M. summons; and, if the cause be
sickness or other disablement, that you will forward a medical
certificate _immediately_, as evidence of same, to

Joshua Johns,
Registrar, Royal Naval Reserve.

CHAPTER VIII.

BUSINESS AS USUAL.

"Business as usual!" said Mr Pamphlett heartily to his clerk Mr
Hendy, as he let himself in at 9.40 by the side door of the Bank.
Mr Hendy lived on the premises, which his wife served as caretaker,
with a "help" to do the scrubbing.

Mr Hendy, always punctual, stood ready in the passage, awaiting his
master. He received Mr Pamphlett's top-hat and walking-stick, helped
him off with his black frock-coat, helped him on with the light
alpaca jacket in which during the hot weather Mr Pamphlett combined
banking with comfort.

"Business as usual!" said Mr Pamphlett, slipping into the alpaca.
"That's the motto. Old England's sound, Hendy!"

"Yes, sir: leastways, I hope so."

"Sound as a bell