_October 19_: Riots and looting--unEnglish manifestations carried out in a very English way. Hysterical orators called for the destruction of all foreign refugees from the Grass, or at very least their exclusion from the benefits of the lootings. In every case the mob answered them in almost identical language: "Fair play," "Share and share alike," "Yer nyme Itler, maybe?" "Come orf it, sonny, oo er yew? Gord Orlmighty's furriner, aint E?" Having heckled the speakers, they proceeded cheerfully to clean out all stocks of available goods--the refugees getting their just shares. There must be a peculiar salubrity about the English air. Otherwise Britons could not act so differently at home and abroad. Thankful indeed all Consolidated Pemmican stores safely loaded. _October 20_: As anticipated, the Grass crossed the Tweed into Northumberland, but quite unexpectedly England has also been invaded from another quarter. Norfolk has the Grass from Yarmouth to Cromer. F, the PM, and myself hanged in effigy. Shall not tarry much longer. _October 21_: Durham and Suffolk. Consulted the captain about a set of auxiliary sails for the _Sisyphus_. Moving aboard tonight. _October 22_: Heard indirectly that the Tharios had managed to charter a seagoing tug on shares with friends. This takes a great load off my mind. Postponed moving to the ship in order to superintend packing of personal possessions, including the manuscript of my history. F says it is still not impossible to perfect compound before the Grass reaches London. _October 23_: On board the _Sisyphus_. What has become of the stolid heroism of the English people? On the way down to the ship, I ran into a crowd no better behaved than the adherents of the Republic One and Indivisible. I mention the episode lightly, but it was no laughing matter. I was lucky to escape with my life. Nervous and upset with the strain. I shall not return to The Ivies till the Grass begins its retreat. Too restless to continue my book. Paced the deck a long time. _October 24_: The fifty girls arrived, and a more maddening cargo I can't imagine. I gave orders to keep them forward, but their shrill presence nevertheless penetrates aft. I hear all electricity has been cut off. Grass in Yorkshire. _October 25_: F came aboard with the other scientists and immediately wanted to know why we didnt set sail. I asked her if her work could be carried on any more easily at sea. She shrugged her shoulders. I pointed out that only rats leave a sinking ship and England was far from overcome. She favored me with one of her fixed stares. "You are dithery, Weener. Your epigrams have lost their jaunty air of discovery and your face is almost green." "You would not expect me to remain unaffected by the events around us, Miss Francis." "Wouldnt I?" she retorted incomprehensibly and went below to her cabin-laboratory.