"Why Tod's going to town--it isn't to see friends." Then seeing the mystified expression on his friend's face, "I'll bet he visits the War Office to find out whether his regiment's likely to get orders." "Good God!" exclaimed Vernley, "but--surely we're not going to war!" "I don't know." "We must keep this from the mater," whispered Vernley. Then, to John, "You're a wise old bird, Scissors--I'd never have guessed." Immediately after breakfast Mr. Vernley and Tod left for London. Their going brought one little hope to John. Muriel would be here now in a few days. This was the last week in July--Tuesday. He had to return in a week, the Tuesday following Bank Holiday, on August the fourth. Muriel would be here by the 1st at the latest. They would have a few days together before he could come back again, early in September. On the fifth he had to leave for Paris, to relieve Phipps, who was there on a special mission. Those jolly days went quickly. They bathed, boated, played tennis and lolled on the dunes. Marsh made frequent excursions into Mablethorpe, where he had contracted a mania for shooting at bottles in a booth, returning with a cocoanut and a German watch as prizes. He was elated with his great success as a deadly shot. "I'm surprised you should like shooting," laughed Mrs. Vernley when he presented her with a cocoanut, and pinned the watch on the cook's blouse. "But at bottles, not human beings, Mrs. Vernley!" "Same thing as soldiers," cried John. "How?" "According to you--green and empty." There was a laugh all round and Marsh shied the cocoanut at John, who split his white ducks in performing a somersault. That afternoon he infected Lindon and Tilly with his craze and dragged them off to Mablethorpe. John dozed on the lawn, Bobbie was engrossed in a novel, Mrs. Vernley was taking her siesta. Only Kitty was alert. She had been writing to Alice who was singing on the morrow at Manchester. Suddenly she put down her pen. "Bobbie, I say, just look at Teddie tearing along--has he gone mad?" She pointed and they looked in the direction of the Mablethorpe road that ran between a deep dyke and the sandhills. He was running breathlessly, his shirt wide open at the neck. He was a lonely figure on the road, but, catching sight of them on the lawn, waved a paper in the air. John woke up. "He's won another prize!" he suggested. "But where's Lindon and Tilly?" asked Bobbie. Then John started up and went across the lawn, and Marsh, now within hailing distance, shouted-- "Special out--Germany's at war with France--threatening Luxembourg!" A minute later, panting, he reached the gate, where they ran to meet him. "Hoo! I'm blown--there!" He thrust the paper into eager hands. "Tilly and Lindon are coming--I've run all the way. It looks like business, doesn't it?" They read down the column. It was brief, with messages from many sources, none authoritative, but the fact was clear--Germany and France were at war.