XVII A NEW DEVELOPMENT
XVIII A TRAGIC HAPPINESS
XIX A MYSTERIOUS ILLNESS
XX A STRANGE NIGHT
XXI COLONEL MCCLURE'S VERDICT
XXII EDGECUMBE'S RESOLVE
XXIII SPRINGFIELD'S PROGRESS
XXIV A STRANGE LOVE-MAKING
XXV 'WHY IS VICTORY DELAYED?'
XXVI 'WHERE DOES GOD COME IN?'
XXVII SEEING LONDON
XXVIII SUNSHINE AND SHADOW
XXIX CROSS CURRENTS
XXX THE MARCH OF EVENTS
XXXI EDGECUMBE'S RETURN
XXXII THE GREAT MEETING
XXXIII THE LIFTED CURTAIN
XXXIV MEMORY
XXXV AFTERWARDS
XXXVI EDGECUMBE'S RESOLUTION
XXXVII MAURICE ST. MABYN
XXXVIII A BOMBSHELL
XXXIX SPRINGFIELD AT BAY
XL MAURICE ST. MABYN'S GENEROSITY
XLI THE NEW HOPE
XLII AN UNFINISHED STORY

FOREWORD

It is now fast approaching four years since our country at the call of
duty, and for the world's welfare entered the great struggle which is
still convulsing the nations of the earth. What this has cost us, and
what it has meant to us, and to other countries, it is impossible to
describe. Imagination reels before the thought. Still the ghastly
struggle continues, daily comes the story of carnage, and suffering,
and loss; and still the enemy who stands for all that is basest, and
most degraded in life, stands firm, and proudly vaunts his prowess.

Why is Victory delayed?

That is the question which has haunted me for many months, and I have
asked myself whether we, and our Allies, have failed in those things
which are essential, not only to Victory, but to a righteous and,
therefore, lasting peace.

In this story, while not attempting a full and complete answer to the
question, I have made certain suggestions which I am sure the Nation,
the Empire, ought to consider; for on our attitude towards them depends
much that is most vital to our welfare.

Let it not be imagined, however, that _The Pomp of Yesterday_ is
anything in the nature of a polemic, or a treatise. It is first and
foremost a story--a romance if you like--of incident, and adventure.
But it is more than a story. It deals with vital things, and it deals
with them--however inadequately--sincerely and earnestly. The
statements, moreover, which will probably arouse a great deal of
antagonism in certain quarters, are not inventions of the Author, but
were related to him by those in a position to know.

Neither are the descriptions of the Battle of the Somme the result of
the Auth