We had other and better things to do. The world
in which we moved as we sat by our steaming tea-
kettle was millions of miles apart from that of the
Olmiitz garrison. We joyfully took up a course of
scientific reading, and with liveliest sympathy kept
pace with the advancing thought of the world's
earnest workers; not alone in science, but in all the
social and philanthropic development of the age
we took an interested part.
The Christmas holidays we spent at my father's
house in Vienna. On Christmas Eve the family
were joined by Doctor Bresser and his Excellency
" Upon the Whole," who chanced, in answer to a
casual question, to say in my hearing:

" It is true. There are heavy, dark, and porten-
tous clouds on the political horizon."



83 "GROUND ARMSl"

I shrank in terror.
"What! How! What do you mean?" I cried
anxiously.
