wonderful lot of things to be seen in the island." Tells you all sorts
of unusual places to go; how, somewhere in the north, you can walk
along a Roman wall for ever so long, "a wonderful experience." Makes
your head spin, he knows so much that you never thought of about
England.

Discussing a tremendous meeting later on, where all the literary
nobility of London are to be with you, he follows you down the steps
when you go. Later forgets, in the crush of his affairs, all about
this arrangement. Then sends you telegrams and basketfuls of letters
of apology, with further invitations.

"Here you are, sir! All the winners! One penny." This had been the
cry of the news lads but the week before.

"England to fight! Here you are, sir. Britain at war!" suddenly they
began to yell through the streets.

It was not an hour now, I felt, to trouble Englishmen with my petty
literary adventures. Also, I became a refugee, to some extent. And,
well--I "beat it" back 'ome again. This was the only way I knew, as a
neutral (then), to serve the countries at war.




VII

HENRY JAMES, HIMSELF