sure that so intelligent and enlightened a sovereign
understands our point of view -- I mean about Belgium.
The Kaiser, without doubt, was overruled by the military
party. As to our sending our Army abroad -- why,
millions are already being engaged in this war!
So where would be the good of our small army?"

That had been on Sunday, only two days after
Major Guthrie had gone. And now, it being Wednesday,
Mrs. Otway bethought herself that she ought to
fulfil her promise with regard to his mother. Somehow
she had a curious feeling that she now owed a
duty to the old lady, and also -- though that perhaps
was rather absurd -- that she would be quite glad to
see any one who would remind her of her kind friend --
the friend whom she missed more than she was willing
to admit to herself.

But of course her friend's surprising kindness and
thought for her had made a difference to her point of
view, and had brought them, in a sense, very much
nearer the one to the other. In fact Mrs. Otway was
surprised, and even a little hurt, that Major Guthrie
had not written to her once since he went away. It was
the more odd as he very often _had_ written to her during
former visits of his to London. Sometimes they
had been quite amusing letters.

She put on a cool, dark-grey linen coat and skirt,
and a shady hat, and then she started off for the mile
walk to Dorycote.

It was a very warm afternoon. Old Mrs. Guthrie,
after she had had her pleasant little after-luncheon
nap, established herself, with the help of her maid,
under a great beech tree in the beautiful garden which

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v?