t-riddled, came the frigates and
privateers of later centuries, their shattered prizes under their lee.
Through these waters men have sailed away to fight and conquer and rule
in India and in many distant lands. Back through these waters, some of
them have come again, generation after generation of them, their duty
done, their adventuring over, asking no more than to lay their bones at
last in quiet churchyards, under the shadow of the cross, near the grey
walls of some English church.

Miss Gibson's voice, resonant, passionate, devout, lingered on the last
syllables of the poem.

"The imperial idea," I said, "after all, Gorman, it has its greatness."

Then Tim spoke, shyly, eagerly.

"I wonder," he said, "if they would let us go on board one of the
submarines. I should like to see---- Oh, there are a lot of things I
should like to see in any of those ships. They must be nearly perfect, I
mean mechanically. The steering gear, for instance----"

His voice trailed off into silence.

"What a pity," said Miss Gibson, "that the King can't be here. I suppose
now there'll, be no royal salutes fired and we shan't see his yacht."

"All Mr. Gorman's fault," I said. "If he had not nagged on in the way he
has about Home Rule, the King would be here with the rest of us. As
it is he has to stay in London while politicians abuse each other in
Buckingham Palace."

"That conference," said Gorman, "is an unconstitutional manoeuvre of the
Tory party."

"What's it all about?" said Miss Gibson.

"The dispute at present," I said, "centres round two parishes in County
Tyrone and because of them a public holiday is being spoiled. All Mr.
Gorman's fault."

CHAPTER XVI.

It must have been the novelty of the thing which brought people
flocking to the hall I hired for the exhibition of Tim Gorman's new
cinematograph. I was aware, in a vague way, that my invitations had been
very generally accepted; but I made no list of my expected guests, and
I did not for a moment suppose that half the people who said they were
coming would actually arrive. I have some experience of social life and
I have always found that it is far easier to accept invitations than to
invent plausible excuses for refusing them. I do not consider that I
am in any way bound by my acceptance in most cases. Dinners are
exceptional. It is not fair to say that you will dine at a house
unless you really mean to do it. But the givers of miscellaneous
entertainment