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ing of the ultimate depths and there was purging of souls。 In every office； in every shop； men went about their work resolute to keep minds sane； faces calm； and voices steady； but haunted by a secret something which they refused to call fearwhich was not fearbut which as yet they were unwilling to acknowledge and which they were unable to name。 With every bulletin from across the sea the uncertainty deepened。 Every hour they waited for news of a great victory for the fleet。 The second day of the war a rumour of such a victory had come across the wires and had raised hopes for a day which next day were dashed to despair。 One ray of light； thin but marvellously bright； came from Belgium。 For these six breathless days that gallant little people had barred the way against the onrushing multitudes of Germany's military hosts。 The story of the defence of Liege was to the Allies like a big drink of wine to a fainting man。 But Belgium could not last。 And what of France？ What France would do no man could say。 It was exceedingly doubtful whether there was in the French soul that enduring quality； whether in the army or in the nation； that would be steadfast in the face of disaster。 The British navy was fit； thank God！ But as to the army； months must elapse before a British army of any size could be on the fighting line。
Another agonising week passed and still there was no sure word of hope from the Front。 In Canada one strong； heartening note had been sounded。 The Canadian Parliament had met and with splendid unhesitating unanimity had approved all the steps the Government had taken； had voted large sums for the prosecution of the war； and had pledged Canada to the Empire to the limit of her power。 That fearless challenge flung out into the cloud wrapped field of war was like a clear bugle call in the night。 It rallied and steadied the young nation； touched her pride； and breathed serene resolve into the Canadian heart。 Canadians of all classes drew a long； deep breath of relief as they heard of the action of their Parliament。 Doubts； uncertainties vanished like morning mists blown by the prairie breeze。 They knew not as yet the magnitude of the task that lay before them； but they knew that whatever it might be； they would not go back from it。
At the end of the second week the last fort in Liege had fallen； Brussels； too； was gone； Antwerp threatened。 Belgium was lost。 From Belgian villages and towns were beginning to come those tales of unbelievable atrocities that were to shock the world into horrified amazement。 These tales read in the Canadian papers clutched men's throats and gripped men's hearts as with cruel fingers of steel。 Canadians were beginning to see red。 The blood of Belgium's murdered victims was indeed to prove throughout Canada and throughout the world the seed of mighty armies。
At the end of the second week Jane could refrain no longer。 She wrote to Larry。
CHAPTER XXIII
A NEUTRAL NATION
The first days of the war were for Larry days of dazed bewilderment and of ever…deepening misery。 The thing which he had believed impossible had come。 That great people upon whose generous ideals and liberal Christian culture he had grounded a sure hope of permanent peace had flung to the winds all the wisdom； and all justice； and all the humanity which the centuries had garnered for them； and； following the primal instincts of the brute； had hurled forth upon the world ruthless war。 Even the great political party of the Social Democrats upon which he had relied to make war impossible had without protest or division proclaimed enthusiastic allegiance to the war programme of the Kaiser。 The universities and the churches； with their preachers and professors； had led the people in mad acclaim of war。 His whole thinking on the subject had been proved wrong。 Passionately he had hoped against hope that Britain would not allow herself to enter the war； but apparently her struggle for peace had been in vain。 His first feeling was one of bitter disappointment and of indignation with the great leaders of the British people who had allowed themselves to become involved in a Mid…European quarrel。 Sir Edward Grey's calm； moderatesub… moderate； indeedexposition of the causes which had forced Britain into war did much to cool his indignation； and Bethmann…Hollweg's cynical explanation of the violation of Belgium's neutrality went far to justify Britain's action consequent upon that outraging of treaty faith。 The deliberate initiation of the policy of 〃frightfulness〃 which had heaped such unspeakable horrors upon the Belgian people tore the veil from the face of German militarism and revealed in its sheer brutality the ruthlessness and lawlessness of that monstrous system。
From the day of Austria's ultimatum to Servia Larry began to read everything he could find dealing with modern European history； and especially German history。 Day and night he studied with feverish intensity the diplomacy and policies of the great powers of Europe till at length he came to a somewhat clear understanding of the modern theory and world policy of the German state which had made war inevitable。 But； though his study made it possible for him to relieve his country from the charge of guilt in this war； his anxiety and his misery remained。 For one thing； he was oppressed with an overwhelming loneliness。 He began to feel that he was dwelling among an alien people。 He had made many and close friends during the months of his stay in Chicago。 But while they were quick to offer him sympathy in his anxiety and misery； he could not fail to observe on every hand the obvious and necessary indications of the neutral spirit。 He could expect nothing else。 In this conflict America had decided that she was not immediately concerned and she was resolute to remain unconcerned。 A leading representative of the Chicago press urged Americans to be careful not to 〃rock the boat。〃 The President of the United States counselled his people 〃to keep calm〃 and to observe the strictest neutrality。 Larry discovered； too； an unconfessed； almost unconscious desire in the heart of many an American； a relic of Revolutionary days； to see England not destroyed or even seriously disabled； but； say； 〃well trimmed。〃 It would do her good。 There was； beside； a large element in the city distinctly and definitely pro…German and intensely hostile to Great Britain。 On his way to the office one afternoon Larry found himself held up by a long procession of young German reservists singing with the utmost vigour and with an unmistakable note of triumph the German national air； 〃Die Wacht Am Rhein；〃 and that newer song which embodied German faith and German ambition； 〃Deutschland Uber Alles。〃 When he arrived at the office that afternoon he was surprised to find that he was unable to go on with his work for the trembling of his hands。 In the office he was utterly alone； for； however his friends there might take pains to show extra kindness； he was conscious of complete isolation from their life。 Unconcerned； indifferent； coolly critical of the great conflict in which his people were pouring out blood like water； they were like spectators at a football match on the side lines willing to cheer good play on either side and ready to acclaim the winner。
The Wakehams； though extremely careful to avoid a word or act that might give him pain； naturally shared the general feeling of their people。 For them the war was only another of those constantly recurring European scraps which were the inevitable result of the forms of government which these nations insisted upon retaining。 If peoples were determined to have kings and emperors； what other could they expect but wars。 France； of course； was quite another thing。 The sympathy of America with France was deep； warm and sincere。 America could not forget the gallant Lafayette。 Besides； France was the one European republic。 As for Britain； the people of Chicago were content to maintain a profoundly neutral calm； and to a certain extent the Wakehams shared this feeling。
In Larry's immediate circle； however； there were two exceptions。 One； within the Wakeham family； was Elfie。 Quick to note the signs of wretchedness in him and quick to feel the attitude of neutrality assumed by her family toward the war； the child； without stint and without thought； gave him a love and a sympathy so warm； so passionate； that it was to his heart like balm to an open wound。 There was no neutrality about Elfie。 She was openly； furiously pro…Ally。 The rights and wrongs of the great world conflict were at first nothing to her。 With Canada and the Canadians she was madly in love； they were Larry's people and for Larry she would have gladly given her life。 Another exception to the general state of feeling was that of Hugo Raeder。 From the first Raeder was an intense and confessed advocate of the cause of the Allies。 From personal observation he knew Germany well； and from wide reading he had come to understand and appreciate the significance of her world policy。 He recognised in German autocracy and in German militarism and in German ambition a menace to the liberties of Europe。 He represented a large and intellectually influ