The Major Part 41

"Oh, Jane, Jane," cried Mrs. Waring-Gaunt, "you have struck upon a very sore spot in this house. Jack will indorse all your minister said. He will doubtless go much further."

"What did he say, Jane?" inquired Jack.

"He was greatly in earnest and he urged preparation by Canada. He thinks we ought at the very least to begin getting our fleet ready right away."

"That's politics, of course," said Mrs. Waring-Gaunt, "and I do not know what you are."

"I am not sure that I do either," she replied, "but I believe too that Canada ought to get at her fleet without loss of time."

"But what did he say about Germany?" continued Jack.

"I can't tell you everything, of course, but he a.s.sured us that Germany had made the greatest possible preparation, that the cities, towns and villages were full of drilling men; that there were great stores of war material, guns and sh.e.l.ls, everywhere throughout Germany; that they were preparing fleets of Zeppelins and submarines too; that they were ready to march at twenty-four hours' notice; that the whole railroad system of Germany was organised, was really built for war; that within the last few years the whole nation had come to believe that Germany must go to war in order to fulfil her great destiny. Father says that this is all foolish talk, and that all this war excitement is prompted chiefly by professional soldiers, like Lord Roberts and others, and by armament makers like the Armstrongs and the Krupps."

"What do you think about it all, Jane?" inquired Jack, looking at her curiously.

"Well, he had spent some months in Germany and had taken pains to inquire of all kinds of people, officers and professors and preachers and working people and politicians, and so I think he ought to know better than others who just read books and the newspapers, don't you think so?"

"I think you are entirely right, and I hope that minister of yours will deliver that lecture in many places throughout this country, for there are not many people, even in England, who believe in the reality of the German menace. But this is my hobby, my sister says, and I don't want to bore you."

"But I am really interested, Mr. Romayne. Papa laughs at me, and Larry too. He does not believe in the possibility of war. But I think that if there is a chance, even the slightest chance, of it being true, it is so terrible that we all ought to be making preparation to defend ourselves."

"Well, if it won't bore you," said Jack, "I shall tell you a few things."

"Then excuse me," said Mrs. Waring-Gaunt. "I have some matters to attend to. I have no doubt that you at least, Jack, will have a perfectly lovely time."

"I am sure I shall too," cried Jane enthusiastically. "I just want to hear about this."

"Will you please pa.s.s me that green book?" said Jack, after Mrs.

Waring-Gaunt had left the room. "No, the next one. Yes. The first thing that it is almost impossible for us Britishers to get into our minds is this, that Germany, not simply the Kaiser and the governing cla.s.ses, but the whole body of the German people, take themselves and their empire and their destiny with most amazing seriousness. Listen to this, for instance. This will give you, I say, the psychological condition out of which war may easily and naturally arise." He turned the leaves of the book and read:

"'To live and expand at the expense of other less meritorious peoples finds its justification in the conviction that we are of all people the most n.o.ble and the most pure, destined before others to work for the highest development of humanity.'

"One of their poets--I haven't got him here--speaks of the 'German life curing all the evils of humanity by mere contact with it.' You see that row of books? These are only a few. Most of them are German. They are all by different authors and on different subjects, but they are quite unanimous in setting forth the German ideal, the governing principle of German World politics. They are filled with the most unbelievable glorification of Germany and the German people, and the most extraordinary prophecies as to her wonderful destiny as a World Power.

Unhappily the German has no sense of humour. A Britisher talking in this way about his country would feel himself to be a fool. Not so the German. With a perfectly serious face he will attribute to himself and to his nation all the virtues in the calendar. For instance, listen to this:

"'Domination belongs to Germany because it is a superior nation, a n.o.ble race, and it is fitting that it should control its neighbours just as it is the right and duty of every individual endowed with superior intellect and force to control inferior individuals about him.'

"Here's another choice bit:

"'We are the superior race in the fields of science and of art. We are the best colonists, the best sailors, the best merchants.'

"That's one thing. Then here's another. For many years after his accession I believe the Kaiser was genuinely anxious to preserve the peace of Europe and tried his best to do so, though I am bound to say that at times he adopted rather peculiar methods, a mingling of bullying and intrigue. But now since 1904--just hand me that thin book, please.

Thank you--the Kaiser has changed his tone. For instance, listen to this:

"'G.o.d has called us to civilise the world. We are the missionaries of human progress.'

"And again this:

"'The German people will be the block of granite on which our Lord will be able to elevate and achieve the civilisation of the world.'

"But I need not weary you with quotations. The political literature of Germany for the last fifteen years is saturated with this spirit. The British people dismiss this with a good-natured smile of contempt. To them it is simply an indication of German bad breeding. If you care I shall have a number of these books sent you. They are somewhat difficult to get. Indeed, some of them cannot be had in English at all. But you read German, do you not? Kathleen told me about your German prize."

"I do, a little. But I confess I prefer the English," said Jane with a little laugh.

"The chief trouble, however, is that so few English-speaking people care to read them. But I a.s.sure you that the one all-absorbing topic of the German people is this one of Germany's manifest destiny to rule and elevate the world. And remember these two things go together. They have no idea of dominating the world intellectually or even commercially--but perhaps you are sick of this."

"Not at all. I am very greatly interested," said Jane.

"Then I shall just read you one thing more. The German has no idea that he can benefit a nation until he conquers it. Listen to this:

"'The dominion of German thought can only be extended under the aegis of political power, and unless we act in conformity to this idea we shall be untrue to out great duties toward the human race.'"

"I shall be very glad to get those books," said Jane, "and I wish you would mark some of these pa.s.sages. And I promise you I shall do all I can to make all my friends read them. I shall begin with Papa and Larry.

They are always making fun of me and my German scare."

"I can quite understand that," replied Jack. "That is a very common att.i.tude with a great majority of the people of England to-day. But you see I have been close to these things for years, and I have personal knowledge of many of the plans and purposes in the minds of the German Kaiser and the political and military leaders of Germany, and unhappily I know too the spirit that dominates the whole body of the German people."

"You lived in Germany for some years?"

"Yes, for a number of years."

"And did you like the life there?"

"In many ways I did. I met some charming Germans, and then there is always their superb music."

And for an hour Jack Romayne gave his listener a series of vivid pictures of his life in Germany and in other lands for the past ten years, mingling with personal reminiscences incidents connected with international politics and personages. He talked well, not only because his subject was a part of himself, but also because Jane possessed that rare ability to listen with intelligence and sympathy. Never had she met with a man who had been in such intimate touch with the world's Great Affairs and who was possessed at the same time of such brilliant powers of description.

Before either of them was aware the party from the mine had returned.

"We have had a perfectly glorious time," cried Nora as she entered the room with her cheeks and eyes glowing.

"So have we, Miss Nora," said Jack. "In fact, I had not the slightest idea of the flight of time."

"You may say so," exclaimed Mrs. Waring-Gaunt. "These two have been so utterly absorbed in each other that my presence in the room or absence from it was a matter of perfect indifference. And how Jane managed it I don't know, but she got Jack to do for her what he has never done for me. He has actually been giving her the story of his life."

Jane stood by listening with a smile of frank delight on her face.

"How did you do it, Jane?" asked Kathleen shyly. "He has never told me."

"Oh, I just listened," said Jane.

"That's a nasty jar for you others," said Nora.

"But he told me something else, Kathleen," said Jane with a bright blush, "and I am awfully glad." As she spoke she went around to Kathleen and, kissing her, said, "It is perfectly lovely for you both."

"Oh, you really mean that, do you?" said Jack. "You know she was exceedingly dubious of me this morning."

"Well, I am not now," said Jane. "I know you better, you see."