There is a dreadful pessimist in my book, who always thinks the worst is going to happen." "And does it ?" asked Michael.
"As far as I have got, it does, which makes it all the worse.

Of course I am very anxious about Hermann, but I feel sure he will come back safe to us.

I daresay France will give in when she sees Germany is in earnest." Mrs.Falbe pulled the shattered remnants of her mind together.

In her heart of hearts she knew she did not care one atom what might happen to armies and navies and nations, provided only that she had a quantity of novels to read, and meals at regular hours.

The fact of being on an island was an immense consolation to her, since it was quite certain that, whatever happened, German armies (or French or Soudanese, for that matter) could not march here and enter her sitting-room and take her books away from her.