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 "The world has been smashed up, and we have to put it on its wheels again," said King Egbert. "As it is the simple common sense of this crisis for all to help and none to seek advantage. Is that our tone or not?"

The gathering was too old and seasoned and miscellaneous for any great displays of enthusiasm, but that was its tone, and with an astonishment that somehow became exhilarating it began to resign, repudiate, and declare its intentions. Firmin, taking notes behind his master, heard everything that had been foretold among the yellow broom, come true. With a queer feeling that he was dreaming, he assisted at the proclamation of the World State, and saw the message taken out to the wireless operators to be throbbed all round the habitable globe. "And next," said King Egbert, with a cheerful excitement in his voice, "we have to get every atom of Carolinum and all the plant for making it, into our control"

Firman was not alone in his incredulity. Not a man there who was not a very amiable, reasonable, benevolent creature at bottom; some had been born to power and some had happened upon it, some had struggled to get it, not clearly knowing what it was and what it implied, but none was irreconcilably set upon its retention at the