, none to speak of. Michael Ragstroar's 'arf-sister's
brother-in-law had certainly took the shilling, but Michael's father had
expressed the opinion that this young man wouldn't do no good
soldiering, and would only be in the way. Which had led Michael to say
that this connection of his by marriage would ultimately get himself
cashiered by Court Martial, for 'inderin'. Much better have stuck to
chopping up live heels and makin' of 'em into pies at Ball's Pond, than
go seeking glory at the cannon's mouth! Michael had not reflected on the
comparative freedom of his own life, contrasted with the monotonous lot
of this ill-starred young man; if, indeed, we may safely accept Micky's
description of it as accurate. Sapps Court did so, and went on in the
belief that the Ball's Pond recruit would prove a _gene_ upon the
movements of the allied troops in the Crimea.

The interest of the Court, therefore, in the contemporary events which
were thrilling the remainder of Europe, was ethical or strategical, and
one had to go outside its limits to be brought into touch with personal
connecting links. But they were to be met with near at hand, for Mrs.
Riley had ilivin relatives at the Sate of War, sivin of her own name,
thray Donnigans, and one O'Rourke, a swate boy, though indade only a
fosther-brother of her nayce Kathleen McDermott. Mrs. Tapping was unable
to enumerate any near relations serving Her Majesty, but laid claim to
consanguinity with distinguished officers, Generals of Division and
Captains of three-deckers, all of whom had an exalted opinion of her own
branch of the Family.

In the main, Sapps regarded the War as a mere Thing in the Newspapers,
of which Uncle Mo heard more accurate details, at The Sun. There is
nothing more unaccountable than the alacrity with which the human mind
receives any statement in print, unless it is its readiness to surrender
its belief on hearing a positive contradiction from a person who cannot
possibly know anything about the matter. One sometimes feels forced to
the conclusion that an absolute disqualification to speak on any subject
is a condition precedent of procuring belief. Certainly a claim to
inspiration enlists disciples quicker than the most subtle argument;
acts, so to speak, as an aperient to the mind--a sort of intellectual
Epsom Salts. Uncle Mo, in the simplicity of his heart, went every day
for an hour to The Sun parlour, taking with him a profound belief in the
latest news