aps
be wrong, then farewell all peace of mind,--then will come that
condition in which a man is tempted to ask himself whether he be in
truth of sane mind.

What should I do next? The cricketing Englishmen, I knew, were going.
Two or three days more would see their gallant ship steam out of the
harbour. As I returned in my cab to the city, I could see the English
colours fluttering from her topmast, and the flag of the English
cricket-club waving from her stern. But I knew well that they had
discussed the question of the Fixed Period among them, and that
there was still time for them to go home and send back some English
mandate which ought to be inoperative, but which we should be
unable to disobey. And letters might have been written before
this,--treacherous letters, calling for the assistance of another
country in opposition to the councils of their own.

But what should I do next? I could not enforce the law _vi et armis_
against Crasweller. I had sadly but surely acknowledged so much as
that to myself. But I thought that I had seen signs of relenting
about the man,--some symptoms of sadness which seemed to bespeak a
yielding spirit. He only asked for a year. He was still in theory
a supporter of the Fixed Period,--pleading his own little cause,
however, by a direct falsehood. Could I not talk him into a generous
assent? There would still be a year for him. And in old days there
had been a spice of manliness in his bosom, to which it might be
possible that I should bring him back. Though the hope was poor, it
seemed at present to be my only hope.

As I returned, I came round by the quays, dropping my cab at the
corner of the street. There was the crowd of Englishmen, all going
off to the vessel to see their bats and bicycles disposed of, and
among them was Jack the hero. They were standing at the water's-edge,
while three long-boats were being prepared to take them off. "Here's
the President," said Sir Kennington Oval; "he has not seen our yacht
yet: let him come on board with us." They were very gracious; so I
got into one boat, and Jack into another, and old Crasweller, who had
come with his guests from Little Christchurch, into the third; and we
were pulled off to the yacht. Jack, I perceived, was quite at home
there. He had dined there frequently, and had slept on board; but to
me and Crasweller it was altogether new. "Yes," said Lord Marylebone;
"if a fellow is to make his home for a month upon the seas, i