Mr Brampton, the leader of the Opposition, then completely destroyed the undoubted effect which had been made upon the House. He did not openly speak in a party spirit, but he hinted very plainly that the Bill under consideration was a mere subterfuge to win votes. He poured contempt upon the fear of the plague, which he characterized throughout as the "Russian epidemic," and ended with the advice to keep a cool head, to preserve the British spirit of sturdy resistance instead of shutting our doors and bringing the country to commercial ruin. "Are we all cravens," he concluded, "scurrying like rabbits to our burrows at the first hint of alarm?" The further debate, although lengthy, had comparatively little influence; the House divided, and the Government was defeated by a majority of nine. 2 The news was all over the country by ten o'clock that night, and it was noticeable that a large percentage of the younger generation still regarded the danger as "rather a lark." This threat of the plague held a promise of high adventure; youth can only realize the possibility of death in its relation to others. "I say, if this bally old plague did come" ... remarked a young man of twenty-two, who was sitting with a friend in the little private bar of the "Dun Taw" Hotel. His friend drew his feet up on to the rungs of his tall stool and winked at the barmaid. "Well, go on. What if it did?" remarked that young woman. The young man considered for a moment and then said: "Those that got left would have a rare old time." "It's the women as'd get left, seems to me," replied the barmaid, and scored a point. "I say, surely you don't come from this part of the world?" was the compliment evoked by her wit. "Not me!" was the answer, "I'm a Londoner, I am. Only started yesterday, and sha'n't stay long if to-day's a fair sample. There 'asn't been a dozen customers in all day, and they were in such a 'urry to get their tonic and go that I'm sure they couldn't 'ave told you whether me 'air was black or ches'nut." Both men immediately looked at the crown of pretty fair hair which had been so churlishly slighted. "First thing I noticed about you," said one. The other, who had hardly spoken before, took the cigarette out of his mouth and remarked: "You can never get that colour with peroxide." The barmaid looked a little suspicious. "Oh, he means it all right, kid," put in the younger man quickly. "Dicky's one of the serious sort. Besides, he's in that line; travels for a firm of wholesale chemists." Dicky nodded gravely. "I could see at once it was natural," he remarked with the air of an expert. "Ah! you're one of them that keeps their eyes open," returned the barmaid approvingly, and Dicky modestly acknowledged the compliment by saying that his business necessitated close observation.