"I feel," Colonel House said to Page, "as though I had been given a kick at every lamp post coming down Constitution Hill." A day or two afterward Colonel House sailed for America.
II And now came the period of distress and of disillusionment.

Three _Lusitania_ notes were sent and were evasively answered, and Washington still seemed to be marking time.

The one event in this exciting period which gave Page satisfaction was Mr.Bryan's resignation as Secretary of State.

For Mr.Bryan personally Page had a certain fondness, but as head of the State Department the Nebraska orator had been a cause of endless vexation.

Many of Page's letters, already printed, bear evidence of the utter demoralization which existed in this branch of the Administration and this demoralization became especially glaring during the _Lusitania_ crisis.