John is
at Westminster, in consultation with the Foreign Office people, and
nothing definite has been done yet; but the great point is, to my
thinking, that the offer should ever have been made."

"Why, Constance, whatever has bewitched you? I never knew you to begin
at the end of a thing before."

And indeed it was unlike Constance Grey. She was in high spirits, and
somehow this little touch of illogical weakness in her struck me as
being very charming. She laughed, and said it was due to my persistent
interruptions. And then she gave me the news.

"America has offered to join hands with us."

"Never!"

"Yes. The most generous sort of defensive alliance, practically without
conditions, and--'as long as Great Britain's present need endures.'
Isn't it splendid? John Crondall regards it as the biggest thing that
has happened; but he is all against accepting the offer."

There had been vague rumours at the time of the invasion, and again, of
a more pointed sort, when Britain declared war. But every one had said
that the pro-German party and the ultra-American party were far too
strong in the United States to permit of anything beyond expressions of
good-will. But now, as I gathered from the copy of the _Evening
Standard_ which Constance gave me:

"The heart of the American people has been deeply stirred by two
considerations: Germany's unwarrantable insolence and arrogance, and
Britain's magnificent display of patriotism, ashore and afloat, in
fighting for her independence. The patriotic struggle for
independence--that is what has moved the American people to
forgetfulness of all jealousies and rivalries. The rather indiscreet
efforts of the German sections of the American public have undoubtedly
hastened this offer, and made it more generous and unqualified. The
suggestion that any foreign people could hector them out of generosity
to the nation from whose loins they sprang, finally decided the American
public; and it is fair to say that the President's offer of alliance is
an offer from the American people to the British people."

"But how about the Monroe Doctrine?" I said to Constance, after running
through the two-column telegram from Washington, of which this passage
formed part.

"I don't know about that; but you see, Dick, this thing clearly comes
from the American people, not her politicians and diplomatists only.
That is what gives it its tremendous importance, I think."

"Yes; to be sure. And why do