ence
and called at the India Office for permission to resign his service that
he might join the Army. But the Secretary of State flatly refused his
application and he was told, instead, to hold himself in readiness for
an immediate recall to his duties in the East. No civil officer of the
Indian Government was eligible for a commission in His Majesty's Forces
except with the sanction of that Government alone. Thereupon, Jack,
deeply depressed in spirit at his impending exile, joined Joyce and
Kitty at Eastbourne whither they had gone for a change.

For the time being, civil life and economic conditions were
disorganised. All England was in a turmoil of preparation for the
Titanic struggle on the fields of France. People were becoming alive to
the fact that even a democracy has its obligations to the State which
guarantees it freedom; for freedom can only depend upon victory over
autocracy and militarism. Private property was commandeered for the
needs of the Army; public buildings became hospitals; motor cars and
horses were requisitioned and carried off. Self-sacrifice became the
order of the day. For weeks, no dependence could be placed upon railway
time-tables, and all personal and individual concerns were forgotten in
the overwhelming needs of the hour. A peace-loving people, averse to
war, aware of all the horrors it entailed, yet rose to the supreme
occasion, mindful of the great traditions of their forefathers, and
stood ready for any sacrifice in the cause of honour, freedom, and the
Right.

When Jack was asked to describe the state of London, he felt that it
wanted more than words to paint its state in those historic days. The
people having spent their feelings in a great outburst of loyalty and
patriotism, were beginning dimly to realise the gigantic task to which
the nation was pledged,--a nation, which, but for its Navy, was totally
unprepared for war, and yet ready to withstand a formidable European
Power that had secretly and thoroughly organised and planned for over
forty years to strike a blow for world-domination. Right was in conflict
with Might, and the end no man could then see; yet London was confident;
but London was also very grave.

About this time, Joyce, to her great dismay, received a cable from her
husband forbidding her to travel on the high seas till security thereon,
for passengers, was assured. She had not realised till she received the
message, how much she had been depending for happ