On Peace Day I set up outside my house two torches, and twined them with laurel; because I thought at least there was nothing pacifist about laurel. But that night, after the bonfire and the fireworks had faded, a wind grew and blew with gathering violence, blowing away the rain. And in the morning I found one of the laurelled posts torn off and lying at random on the rainy ground; while the other still stood erect, green and glittering in the sun. I thought that the pagans would certainly have called it an omen; and it was one that strangely fitted my own sense of some great work half fulfilled and half frustrated. And I thought vaguely of that man in Virgil, who prayed that he might slay his foe and return to his country; and the gods heard half the prayer, and the other half was scattered to the winds. For I knew we were right to rejoice; since the tyrant was indeed slain and his tyranny fallen for ever; but I know not when we shall find our way back to our own land. _Printed in Great Britain by_ Butler & Tanner Ltd., _Frome and London_ * * * * * A FEW OF MESSRS. METHUEN’S PUBLICATIONS =Armstrong (Warwick W).= THE ART OF CRICKET. _Fourth Edition._ Illustrated. Crown 8vo, 6s. net. =Atkinson (T. D.).= ENGLISH ARCHITECTURE. Illustrated. _Sixth Edition._ Fcap. 8vo, 5s. net. =Bain (F. W.)=-- IN THE GREAT GOD’S HAIR (_Seventh Edition_); A DRAUGHT OF THE BLUE (_Seventh Edition_); AN INCARNATION OF THE SNOW (_Fourth Edition_); A MINE OF FAULTS (_Fifth Edition_); A DIGIT OF THE MOON (_Fourteenth Edition_); THE LIVERY OF EVE (_Third Edition_); A HEIFER OF THE DAWN (_Eleventh Edition_); AN ESSENCE OF THE DUSK (_Fifth Edition_); THE DESCENT OF THE SUN (_Eighth Edition_); THE ASHES OF A GOD (_Third Edition_); BUBBLES OF THE FOAM (_Third Edition_); A SYRUP OF THE BEES (_Second Edition_); THE SUBSTANCE OF A DREAM (_Second Edition_). Fcap. 8vo, 5s. net each. AN ECHO OF THE SPHERES. Wide Demy, 10s. 6d. net. =Baker (C. H. Collins).= CROME. Illustrated. Quarto, £5 5s. net. =Bateman (H. M.).= A BOOK OF DRAWINGS. _Fifth Edition._ Royal 4to, 10s. 6d. net. SUBURBIA. Demy 4to, 6s. net. MORE DRAWINGS. Royal 4to, 10s. 6d. net. =Beckford (Peter).= THOUGHTS ON HUNTING. In a series of Familiar Letters to a Friend. With an Introduction and Notes by J. OTHO PAGET. Illustrated. _Fifth Edition._ Demy 8vo, 6s. net. =Belloc (H.)=--PARIS. Illustrated. _Fourth Edition._ Crown 8vo, 8s. 6d. net. HILLS AND THE SEA. _Thirteenth Edition._ Fcap. 8vo, 6s. net. Also Fcap. 8vo, 2s. net. ON NOTHING. _Fourth Edition._ Fcap. 8vo, 6s. net. Also Fcap. 8vo, 2s. net. ON EVERYTHING. _Fourth Edition._ Fcap. 8vo, 6s. net. Also Fcap. 8vo, 2s. net. ON SOMETHING. _Third Edition._ Fcap. 8vo, 6s. net. Also Fcap. 8vo, 2s. net. FIRST AND LAST. _Second Edition._ Fcap. 8vo, 6s. net. THIS AND THAT AND THE OTHER. _Second Edition._ Fcap. 8vo, 6s. net.