l affairs, and the like. I never gave any
thought to our position as a people and a nation in relation to foreign
Powers.

"Oh, well," I said, "it's an extraordinary business, isn't it? I have
just come from the Demonstration in Hyde Park. It was practically
squashed by the arrival of the special editions. The people seemed
pretty considerably muddled about it, so I suppose those who arranged it
all may be said to have scored their point."

"So you don't believe it?"

"Well, I believe it is generally admitted to be a gigantic hoax, is it
not?"

"But, my dear Mr. Mordan, how--how wonderful English people are! You,
your own self; what do _you_ think about it? But forgive me for
heckling. Won't you sit down? Or will you come into the study? Aunt is
in there."

We went into the study, a cheerful, bright room, with low wicker chairs,
and a big, littered writing-table.

"Mr. Mordan doesn't believe it," said Constance Grey, when I had shaken
hands with her aunt.

"Doesn't he?" said that strong, plain-spoken woman. "Well, I fancy there
are a good many more by the same way of thinking, who'll have their eyes
opened pretty widely by this time to-morrow."

"Then you take the whole thing seriously?" I asked them.

Somehow, my own thoughts had become active in the presence of these
women, and were racing over everything that I had seen and heard that
day, from the moment of my chat with Wardle, before sunrise, in Holborn.

"I don't see any other way to take it," said Mrs. Van Homrey, with
laconic emphasis. "Do you?" she added.

"Well, you see, I did not begin by taking your view. My first word of it
was just before dawn this morning, from a newspaper man in Holborn; and,
somehow--well, you know, the general idea seems to be that the whole
thing is an elaborate joke worked up by the Navy League, or somebody, as
a counter-stroke to the Disarmament Demonstration--to teach us a lesson,
and all that, you know."

I had to remind myself that I was addressing two ladies who were sure to
be whole-hearted supporters of the Navy League and all other Imperialist
organizations. Constance Grey seemed to me to be appraising me. I
fancied those brilliant eyes of hers were looking right into me with
grave criticism, and discovering me unworthy. My heart sickened at the
thought. I should have been more distressed had not a vague, futile
anger crept into my mind. After all, I thought, what right had this girl
from South Africa to criti