“I’m sure you needn’t worry about them, dear Mrs Dare,” said the Colonel emphatically. “Ray knows his way about and they’ll be perfectly all right. We may get a wire from them at any moment saying they’ll be here in an hour.” “I’m surprised we’ve had no word of any kind since Ray left.” “I expect things are all upside down all over the Continent. We’ll hear from them all right in time.” Then Mr Dare came in and they saw by his face that the City barometer was still at stormy. “Rumours galore,” was his report, “and mostly disturbing. Sir Edward Grey is doing everything in his power for peace, but the general feeling is that the Kaiser means war, and the City is preparing for it. Bank-rate is up to 4. It may be 8 to-morrow. Consols down to 70. Everything is in suspense. No business doing.” “And what do they say as to our being dragged in?” asked the Colonel anxiously. “General idea is that only a miracle can keep us out, and that miracles aren’t common.” “Any talk of mobilising?--fleet and army?” “No orders yet, as far as one can learn, but there is little doubt word has been sent round to be ready. I saw Guards marching through this morning. In fact there is an undoubted sense of war in the air.” “And how do they feel as to our preparedness, if it comes to that?” At which Mr Dare shook his head. “Not a doubt as to our readiness at sea. But on land----” he shrugged discomfortingly, “Well, the general feeling is that what we have is good, but so small as to be of very little account among the huge masses that may be engaged over there. They say there may be ten million men fighting----” “How awful!” said Mrs Dare. “Ten millions! And all with relatives of one kind or another! Just think of the aftermath--the suffering and misery! I am not a violent person, but, truly, there is no ill I could not wish for the men who bring such a horror about.” “They’ll suffer!” said the Colonel. “We too,” said Mr Dare soberly. “And here is how it comes home to us. If we’re drawn in there will be an urgent call for more men----” “Quite right!” said the Colonel. “If you’d listened to advice we’d have had ’em ready. Now we shall have to do the best we can with what we can get.” “The Territorials will be mobilised----” “But they are surely for home defence,” said Mrs Dare. “They will be needed at the front. Presumably the choice will be given them.” “And they’ll go,” said the Colonel. “They’re not half as bad as some folks have been trying to make out, and this will buck them up to top notch.” “That means your Ray will be in it.” “He wouldn’t be my Ray unless he was, sir.” “And our Noel. He’s been at us for days past for permission to join,” said Mrs Dare without enthusiasm. “He’ll go London Scottish with Ray of course. Good lad!”