ming here on purpose to play us, and swear that they'll beat us by
means of the new catapult. But I know that our steam-bowler will beat
their catapult hollow. At any rate I cannot stir from here till after
the match is over. I've got to arrange everything myself. Besides,
they do count something on my spring-batting. I should be regarded
as absolutely a traitor to my country if I were to leave Britannula
while this is going on. The young Marquis of Marylebone, their
leader, is to stay at our house; and the vessel bringing them will be
due here about eleven o'clock next Wednesday."

"Eleven o'clock next Wednesday," said I, in surprise. I had not
as yet heard of this match, nor of the coming of our aristocratic
visitor.

"They won't be above thirty minutes late at the outside. They left
the Land's End three weeks ago last Tuesday at two, and London at
half-past ten. We have had three or four water telegrams from them
since they started, and they hadn't then lost ten minutes on the
journey. Of course I must be at home to receive the Marquis of
Marylebone."

All this set me thinking about many things. It was true that at such
a moment I could not use my parental authority to send Jack out of
the island. To such an extent had the childish amusements of youth
been carried, as to give to them all the importance of politics and
social science. What I had heard about this cricket-match had gone
in at one ear and come out at the other; but now that it was brought
home to me, I was aware that all my authority would not serve to
banish Jack till it was over. Not only would he not obey me, but he
would be supported in his disobedience by even the elders of the
community. But perhaps the worst feature of it all was the arrival
just now at Gladstonopolis of a crowd of educated Englishmen. When
I say educated I mean prejudiced. They would be Englishmen with
no ideas beyond those current in the last century, and would be
altogether deaf to the wisdom of the Fixed Period. I saw at a glance
that I must wait till they should have taken their departure, and
postpone all further discussion on the subject as far as might be
possible till Gladstonopolis should have been left to her natural
quiescence after the disturbance of the cricket. "Very well," said
I, leaving the room. "Then it may come to pass that you will never be
able to visit the wonderful glories of Mount Earnshawe."

"Plenty of time for that," said Jack, as I shut the door.