n outlay of money
all the comfort she wanted could be secured to her. The thought of war
had upset her a good deal already: she had been unable to attend to her
book when she awoke from her after-lunch nap; and now, when she hoped to
have her tea in peace, and find her attention restored by it, she found
the general atmosphere of her two companions vaguely disquieting. She
became a little more loquacious than usual, with the idea of talking
herself back into a tranquil frame of mind, and reassuring to herself
the promise of a peaceful future.

"Such a blessing we have a good fleet," she said. "That will make us
safe, won't it? I declare I almost hate the Germans, though my dear
husband was one himself, for making such a disturbance. The papers all
say it is Germany's fault, so I suppose it must be. The papers
know better than anybody, don't they, because they have foreign
correspondents. That must be a great expense!"

Sylvia felt she could not endure this any longer. It was like having a
raw wound stroked. . . .

"Mother, you don't understand," she said. "You don't appreciate what is
happening. In a day or two England will be at war with Germany."

Mrs. Falbe's book had slipped from her knee. She picked it up and
flapped the cover once or twice to get rid of dust that might have
settled there.

"But what then?" she said. "It is very dreadful, no doubt, to think
of dear Hermann being with the German army, but we are getting used to
that, are we not? Besides, he told me it was his duty to go. I do not
think for a moment that France will be able to stand against Germany.
Germany will be in Paris in no time, and I daresay Hermann's next letter
will be to say that he has been walking down the boulevards. Of course
war is very dreadful, I know that. And then Germany will be at war with
Russia, too, but she will have Austria to help her. And as for Germany
being at war with England, that does not make me nervous. Think of our
fleet, and how safe we feel with that! I see that we have twice as many
boats as the Germans. With two to one we must win, and they won't be
able to send any of their armies here. I feel quite comfortable again
now that I have talked it over."

Sylvia caught Michael's eye for a moment over the tea-urn. She felt he
acquiesced in what she was intending to say.

"That is good, then," she said. "I am glad you feel comfortable about
it, mother dear. Now, will you read your book out here? Why not, if I