too, that victory means a
great deal more to what they term `the upper classes' than it does to
them. Yet, in every sense of the word, they are bearing an equal portion
of the fight, because, when it comes down to human life, the life of the
farm labourer's son is of the same intrinsic value as the life of the
peer's."

Lord Maltenby moved a little in his chair. There was a slight frown upon
his aristocratic forehead. He disagreed entirely with the speaker, with
whom he feared, however, to cross swords. Mr. Hannaway Wells, who had
been waiting for his opportunity, took charge of the conversation. He
spoke in a reserved manner, his fingers playing with the stem of his
wineglass.

"I must confess," he said, "that I feel the deepest interest in what
the Bishop has just said. I could not talk to you about the military
situation, even if I knew more than you do, which is not the case, but
I think it is clear that we have reached something like a temporary
impasse. There certainly seems to be no cause for alarm upon any front,
yet, not only in London, but in Paris and even Rome, there is a curious
uneasiness afoot, for which no one can, account which no one can bring
home to any definite cause. In the same connection, we have confidential
information that a new spirit of hopefulness is abroad in Germany. It
has been reported to us that sober, clear-thinking men--and there are
a few of them, even in Germany--have predicted peace before a month is
out."

"The assumption is," Doctor Lennard interpolated, "that Germany has
something up her sleeve."

"That is not only the assumption," the Cabinet Minister replied, "but it
is also, I believe, the truth."

"One could apprehend and fear a great possible danger," Lord Shervinton
observed, "if the Labour Party in Germany were as strong as ours, or
if our own Labour, Party were entirely united. The present conditions,
however, seem to me to give no cause for alarm."

"That is where I think you are wrong," Hannaway Wells declared. "If the
Labour Party in Germany were as strong as ours, they would be strong
enough to overthrow the Hohenzollern clique, to stamp out the militarism
against which we are at war, to lay the foundations of a great German
republic with whom we could make the sort of peace for which every
Englishman hopes. The danger, the real danger which we have to face,
would lie in an amalgamation of the Labour Party, the Socialists and the
Syndicalists in this countr