rom the far
side of the platform.

"Steam yacht lands guns on Galway Coast. National Volunteers muster to
receive Arms. Coastguards Paralysed. Police Helpless. Crushing Reply to
Ulster Lawlessness."

That, of course, was a Liberal paper. There was a Unionist paper open on
the floor at my feet. Its statement of the facts was almost identical;
but its interpretation was different Instead of regarding the incident
as a lesson in loyalty to Malcolmson it said:

"Act of Rebellion in Connaught. Civil War Breaks Out."

"In the broad light of day," said Mrs. Ascher, "at noon. Without an
attempt at concealment. Now, now at last, Ireland has asserted herself,
has shown that the idealism of the artist is a match for the sordid
materialism of the worshippers of efficiency."

I looked round for Gorman. I wanted to see how he was taking the news.
He was on the platform, talking seriously, I fear sternly, to Tim; no
doubt about his clothes. Ascher was standing near them; but was not, I
think, listening to Gorman. He had the air of patient politeness which
is common with him on pleasure parties and excursions of all kinds.

"I can't help hoping," I said, "that they haven't got any ammunition. It
sounds an unkind thing to say, but--I'm not much of a patriot, I know,
but I've just enough love of country in me to dislike the idea of
Irishmen shooting each other."

"Oh," said Mrs. Ascher, "there would be no risk of that if--if men like
you--the natural leaders--would place yourselves at the head of the
people. Think--think----"

I did think. The more I thought the less inclined I felt to agree with
Mrs. Ascher. It seemed to me that if I took to paralysing coastguards
and reducing policemen to helplessness there would be considerably more
risk of shooting than if I stayed quietly in London. The proper leaders
of the people--proper though perhaps not natural--are the politicians.
The only risk of real trouble in Ireland rose from the fact that men
like Malcolmson--natural leaders--had done what Mrs. Ascher wanted me to
do, put themselves at the head of the people. If they had been content
to leave the question of Home Rule to the politicians it could have been
settled quietly. Gorman, for instance, has an instinct for stopping in
time. Malcolm-son and men like him confuse games with real affairs.
I might turn out to be just as bad as Malcolmson if I took to placing
myself at the head of the people. Besides I do not like the people.