state, how long it would take to get them ready for Chapel.

The children understood and gulped down the rest of their breakfast
hastily, while their mother turned to the fireplace and set the
saucepan hissing again. Having finished this second fry, she tipped
the cooked eggs on to the dish, and swept the youngsters off to be
tittivated.

Nicky-Nan and his host ate in a constrained silence. Nicky, though
ravenous, behaved politely, and only accepted a fifth egg under
strong pressure.

"Curious caper, this o' Germany's," said Mr Penhaligon, by way of
making conversation. "But our Navy's all right."

"Sure," Nicky-Nan agreed.

"I've been studyin' the papers, though--off an' on. The Kaiser's
been layin' up for this, these years past: and by my reck'nin' 'tis
goin' to be a long business. . . . I don't tell the Missus _that_,
you'll understand? But I'd take it friendly if you kept an eye on
'em, as a naybour. . . . O' course 'tis settled we must clear out
from here."

"I don't see it," said Nicky-Nan, pursing his lips.

"Pamphlett's a strong man. What he wants he thinks he's bound to
have--same as these Germans."

"He won't, then: nor they neither."