replied Tom.

"Then what do you mean by not doing your duty?"

"I have my own views," replied Tom. "Look here, Elijah, I'm not such a
fool as to go over there and get killed; th' other chaps'll lick the
Germans all right."

"That's the answer of a coward," replied Elijah Butterworth; "if
everybody said that, the country would be robbed from us, and we should
have those German devils ruling over us."

"No fear of that," laughed Tom, and yet he felt uncomfortable.

"Aren't you an Englishman?" cried Elijah, "and don't you care for the
old country?"

"Ay, I don't know," replied Tom, "the Germans are just as well off as
we are."

Meanwhile the real facts of the situation became more apparent. The
Germans were not to be beaten easily. Russia, in spite of all that had
been said about her power as a great steam-roller, could make no real
headway; while France and England combined could not drive the Huns
from the line they occupied. People tried to explain the situation,
but the dreadful logic still remained: the country we had sworn to
protect and save was in the hands of the enemy. The industrial part of
France was held in a grip of iron; while Russia was powerless against
the hosts of Germany.

First there were talks about the war being over by Christmas, but that
delusion quickly vanished, and when a member of the Cabinet came to
Manchester, and said that it might take years to drive the enemy from
his position, people stared in bewilderment. More and more men were
asked for, while some of the newspapers began to talk about
conscription.

As Christmas drew near, Tom became more and more uncomfortable, even
although the blandishments of Polly Powell grew more powerful. He had
attended two recruiting meetings, but they seemed to him half-hearted
and unconvincing. He still saw no reason why he should "do his bit."
When he was asked why he didn't join, he mentioned the names of several
young fellows who also held back.

"Why should I go," he would say, "when so-and-so and so-and-so stay at
home? They are manufacturers' sons, and they are no better nor me.
Let them enlist as privates, and then I'll see about it."

When the New Year came a big recruiting meeting was announced at the
great hall of the Mechanics' Institute. It was advertised that a man
who had been to Belgium, and had witnessed what had taken place, was to
be the chief speaker. At first Polly Powell tried to persuade Tom not
to go, and wo