"Germany has delivered a request to Luxembourg asking for the free passage for her troops to the French frontier; her neutrality will be respected in the event of acquiescence," read John aloud. "Neutrality respected--after walking across them!" snorted Bobbie. Suddenly John gripped the paper. "Brussels. From our special correspondent. It is rumoured that a demand for the free passage of German troops, as in the case of Luxembourg, has been made to the Belgian Government. No official statement was made at noon, but the Belgian army is being mobilised as a precautionary measure." And Muriel was in Belgium! At tea they had a thousand hopes, fears, views. All the evening Marsh walked about muttering, "It's incredible--the twentieth century, and civilisation to come to this! But it'll all be over quickly, there's that in it." "Quickly, why?" asked Bobbie. "The Germans will be in Paris in a fortnight!" "They won't!" said John grimly. "Why not?" asked Kitty. "We shall stop them." "We?" echoed Tilly. "Yes--France is our ally, we must stand by her." "There's no definite treaty compelling us," said Mrs. Vernley. "It's not a matter of compulsion--it's a matter of honour," asserted Lindon. "Honour!" cried Marsh. "Honour--and spread the massacre!" "The French are our allies. Germany knows that, and has thrown down the gage. We are challenged," said John grimly. "Then--it--it means war for us?" asked Mrs. Vernley. "Yes." "Oh dear--oh dear--oh dear!" she murmured, clasping and unclasping her hands. Marsh sat silent with the rest. The net was closing. Not one of them mentioned Muriel's name, chiefly because she was in all their minds. That evening a wire came from Mr. Vernley. The Belgian Legation refused to issue passports. He had wired Muriel to return at once. He was coming down in the morning. Charlton, of the Foreign Office, said there was every hope that they would keep out of the war. Mr. Vernley arrived in the morning, and with him came the news that Belgium had refused Germany the right of access across her territory and Germany had declared war and was hacking her way through the country. "That means we are all in," said Lindon. "We shall know soon. England has sent an ultimatum declaring she will defend Belgian neutrality according to the treaty." Those were hours of suspense to the Vernley household, all their thoughts turned to Muriel. Where was she? Mr. Vernley was sure she was on her way to England; she had had ample time to reach Ostend. "Just think, all of these people in a few days will be living in apprehension--and every one of us shouldering a gun!" said John, looking at the crowd on the shore. A group of red-faced youths sauntered by, hatless, in vivid blazers. "There goes gun-fodder," muttered Marsh. The strain was telling on him; he had lost his buoyancy.