Richard faced round sharply: “Is that what it means for me?”
“We cannot tell for certain; I will make an appeal on your behalf——”
“Damn! I don’t want any appeals. It’s not a felony to be born in one place instead of another. What’s the law?”
“By pre-war law, you took your father’s nationality while you were a minor—but all that has been altered——” Ferdinand took up the paper: “They’ve been lenient so far; but all this agitation—the Home Secretary has had to make concessions to the public. They are rounding up enemy aliens of military age; that does not concern you at present. You will have to register under the Five-Mile Act until—until——”
“Until I’m old enough to have enlisted,” muttered the boy. “And Deb?”
“Deb is all right; she was born in England. At least—I must see: there is still some confusion under these new conditions as to whether you are what your father is, or where you were born. And they alter the law every five minutes. But I think she is all right.”
“Good,” with a breath of relief. “And you, dad?”
“They are not persecuting the naturalized, so far. There is an outcry from the extreme party, but——” Ferdie shrugged his shoulders, “I am a British subject.”
“And grandfather? And Aunt Stella?”
“They are repatriating the old people and the women and children. But exemptions are to be made in special cases; Stella has been a resident here for so many years——”