ving you some of her peace
talk. I want you to know, Mr. Romayne, that I don't agree with her in
the least, and I am quite sure you don't either."

"I am not so sure of that," replied the young man. "We have not
finished it out yet. I feel confident, however, that we shall come to an
agreement on it."

"I hope not," replied Nora, "for in that case you would become a
pacifist, for Kathleen, just like mother, you know, is a terrible peace
person. Indeed, our family is divided on that question--Daddy and I
opposed to the rest. And you know pacifists have this characteristic,
that they are always ready to fight."

"Yes," said her sister. "We are always ready to fight for peace. But do
not let us get into that discussion now. I shall walk with you a little
way."

Arm in arm she and Mrs. Waring-Gaunt walked down the steep trail, Mr.
Romayne following behind, leading the horses. As they walked together,
Mrs. Waring-Gaunt talked to the girl of her brother.

"You know he was in the Diplomatic Service, went in after the South
African War, and did awfully well there in the reconstruction work, was
very popular with the Boers, though he had fought them in the war. He
got to know their big men, and some of them are really big men. As a
matter of fact, he became very fond of them and helped the Government at
Home to see things from their point of view. After that he went to
the Continent, was in Italy for a while and then in Germany, where, I
believe, he did very good work. He saw a good deal of the men about the
Kaiser. He loathed the Crown Prince, I believe, as most of our people
there do. Suddenly he was recalled. He refused, of course, to talk about
it, but I understand there was some sort of a row. I believe he lost
his temper with some exalted personage. At any rate, he was recalled,
chucked the whole service, and came out here. He felt awfully cut up
about it. And now he has no faith in the German Government, says they
mean war. He's awfully keen on preparation and that sort of thing. I
thought I would just tell you, especially since I heard you had been
discussing war with him."

As they neared the Switzer place they saw a young man standing on the
little pier which jutted out into the stream with a pike-pole in his
hand, keeping the logs from jambing at the turn.

"It's Ernest Switzer," cried Kathleen. "I have not seen him for ever so
long. How splendidly he is looking! Hello, Ernest!" she cried, waving
her hand and