A Rock in the Baltic | Page 7

behind.
Take this very case. Britain says coldly to Russia:
"'We disclaim the act, and apologize.'
"Now, it would be much more to the purpose if she said genially:
"'We have in our employment an impetuous young fool with a thirst for
information. He wished to learn how a new piece of ordnance would
act, so fired it off with no more intention of striking Russia than of
hitting the moon. He knows much more about dancing than about
foreign affairs. We've given him a month's leave, and he will slip across
privately to St. Petersburg to apologize and explain. The moment you
see him you will recognize he is no menace to the peace of nations.

Meanwhile, if you can inculcate in him some cold, calm common-sense
before he returns, we'll be ever so much obliged.'"
"So you are determined to do what you think the government should
have done."
"Oh, quite. There will be nothing frigidly official about my
unauthorized mission. I have a cousin in the embassy at St. Petersburg,
but I shan't go near him; neither shall I go to an hotel, but will get quiet
rooms somewhere that I may not run the risk of meeting any chance
acquaintances."
"It seems to me you are about to afford the Russian Government an
excellent opportunity of spiriting you off to Siberia, and nobody would
be the wiser."
Drummond indulged in the free-hearted laugh of a youth to whom life
is still rather a good joke.
"I shouldn't mind studying the Siberian system from the inside if they
allowed me to return before my leave was up. I believe that sort of
thing has been exaggerated by sensational writers. The Russian
Government would not countenance anything of the kind, and if the
minor officials tried to play tricks, there's always my cousin in the
background, and it would be hard luck if I couldn't get a line to him. Oh,
there's no danger in my project!"
Suddenly the girl came to a standstill, and gave expression to a little cry
of dismay.
"What's wrong?" asked the Lieutenant.
"Why, we've walked clear out into the country!"
"Oh, is that all? I hadn't noticed."
"And there are people waiting for me. I must run."
"Nonsense, let them wait."

"I should have been back long since."
They had turned, and she was hurrying.
"Think of your new fortune, Miss Amhurst, safely lodged in our friend
Morton's bank, and don't hurry for any one."
"I didn't say it was a fortune: there's only ten thousand dollars there."
"That sounds formidable, but unless the people who are waiting for you
muster more than ten thousand apiece, I don't think you should make
haste on their account."
"It's the other way about, Mr. Drummond. Individually they are poorer
than I, therefore I should have returned long ago. Now, I fear, they will
be in a temper."
"Well, if anybody left me two thousand pounds, I'd take an afternoon
off to celebrate. Here we are in the suburbs again. Won't you change
your mind and your direction; let us get back into the country, sit down
on the hillside, look at the Bay, and gloat over your wealth?"
Dorothy Amhurst shook her head and held out her hand.
"I must bid you good-by here, Lieutenant Drummond. This is my
shortest way home."
"May I not accompany you just a little farther?"
"Please, no, I wish to go the rest of the way alone."
He held her hand, which she tried to withdraw, and spoke with
animation.
"There's so much I wanted to say, but perhaps the most important is
this: I shall see you the night of the 14th, at the ball we are giving on
the 'Consternation'?"
"It is very likely," laughed the girl, "unless you overlook me in the

throng. There will be a great mob. I hear you have issued many
invitations."
"We hope all our friends will come. It's going to be a great function.
Your Secretary of the Navy has promised to look in on us, and our
Ambassador from Washington will be there. I assure you we are doing
our best, with festooned electric lights, hanging draperies, and all that,
for we want to make the occasion at least remotely worthy of the
hospitality we have received. Of course you have your card, but I wish
you hadn't, so that I might have the privilege of sending you one or
more invitations."
"That would be quite unnecessary," said the girl, again with a slight
laugh and heightened color.
"If any of your friends need cards of invitation, won't you let me know,
so that I may send them to you?"
"I'm sure I shan't need any, but if I do, I promise to remember your
kindness, and apply."
"It will be