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, and did not see how to stir in the matter; the Home Government was at once applied to, and despatched peremptory orders to resist the encroachment by force; but a few hours afterwards equally peremptory orders were telegraphed to do nothing without having first received a satisfactory explanation.

On the Sunday morning which concludes the previous chapter, our party were sitting down to breakfast, when Lesbia opened the Observer, which she had got from a newsman at the street corner.

‘Here’s a shindy, all the fat’s in the fire! the Russian bear is on the rampage again, the Eastern Question is up in full dance, India’s threatened, and they’ve called a Cabinet Council for this afternoon.’

‘On Sunday!’ said her uncle; ‘very unusual; they must think it a serious crisis. Very awkward, isn’t it, with this new African embroglio in prospect, and the United States taking an unfriendly tone. I suppose because the wild boar out of the wood is worrying them into it.’

‘Yes, those Irish are at the bottom of every mischief. What’s to be the end of it?’

‘I suppose we shall have to fight somebody,’ said her uncle. ‘It’ll depress the money markets to-morrow.’

‘Fight!’ repeated Lesbia,

Singing]

Really, Lesbia,’ said Mrs Bristley, ‘I wonder you don’t apply for an engagement in a music-hall.’

‘Well, Aunt Kate, if nothing better turns up, I shall try for that.’

‘A nice kettle of fish indeed,’ said Mr Bristley, pursuing