though they were, but also because such a marriage would still further cement the already close union existing between two great countries of the same faith, the same blood, and the same ideals.  “Long may these two countries,” he said, “who carry in their hands the blazing torches of humanity and civilization, march abreast down the pages of history, writing it in glorious letters as they march.”  Then he sat down, and instantly relapsed into silence and abstraction.  It was as if a candle had been blown out.

They’re all certainly very kind to me, the people I’ve met here, and say the nicest things about England.  They’re in love with her, as I used to tell Frau Berg’s boarders, but openly and enthusiastically, not angrily and reluctantly as the boarders were.  I’ve not heard so many nice things about England ever as I did yesterday.  I loved hearing them, and felt all lit up.

We went out on the balcony overlooking the Thiergarten after dinner.  The Graf’s chief had sent for him, and Bernd and some of the men had gone away too, but more people kept dropping in and joining us on the balcony watching the crowds.  The Brandenburger Thor is close on our left, and the Reichstag is a stone’s throw across the road on our right.  When the crowd saw the officers in our group, they yelled for joy and flung their hats in the air.  The Colonel, in his staff officer’s uniform, was the chief attraction.  He seemed unaware that there was a crowd, and talked to me in much the same hilarious and flowery strain he had talked at the Oberforsterei, saying a great number of things about hair and eyes and such.  I know I’ve got hair and eyes; I’ve had them all my life, so what’s the use of wasting time telling me about them?  I tried all I knew to get him to talk about what he really thought of the chances of war, but quite in vain.

Do you know what time it is?  Nearly eight, and the Deutschland uber Alles business has already started in the streets.  There are little crowds of people, looking so tiny and black, not a bit as if they were real, and had blood in them and could be hurt, already on the steps of the Reichstag eagerly reading the morning papers.  I must get dressed and go down and hear if anything fresh has happened.  Good-bye my own loved mother,—­I’ll write whenever I get a moment.  And don’t forget, mother darling, that if you’re worried about my being here I’ll start straight off for Switzerland.  But if you’re not worried I wouldn’t like to interrupt my lessons.  They really are very important things for our future.

  Your Chris.

  Berlin, Friday afternoon, July 31st.

My sweetest mother,