e had come with bad news from Brighton?

She did not stay to waken her sisters. She hastily put on her hat and
went downstairs; and the first person she saw was Lieutenant King
himself, who was calmly looking over the list of arrivals.

to be infectious; even Nan felt herself smiling, though she thought
that the commander of a man-of-war ought not to go on like this. And
how could Frank King, who had been practically all his life at sea,
know so much about the rustics in Wiltshire? How could he have gone
through those poaching adventures, for example? She knew that
Kingscourt was in Wiltshire; but if, as he had told her, he was in the
navy when the English fleet paid its famous visit to Cherbourg, he must
have left Wiltshire when he was a very small boy indeed.

They got higher and higher into the mountains as the evening fell, and
the mists closed down upon them. Outside they heard nothing but the
rattle of the rain on the top of the carriage, and the tinkle of the
horses' bells. By and by the lamps were lit. Later they were in
absolute blackness--plunging through the streaming night; but they were
contented enough.

When the carriage stopped they were quite surprised. Splugen already!
And where was the inn? Frank King sprang out, and found himself in a
sort of big square, with the rain pelting down, and the building
opposite him apparently closed. But presently a man appeared with a
lantern, who informed him that they could have beds certainly, but in
the _dependance_, as the hotel was overcrowded. Then the gentleman
with the lantern disappeared.

It was fortunate, indeed, for these young ladies that they had a male
protector and champion with them; for the bad weather had detained many
people, the hotel was crammed full, and as this was the _table d'hote_
hour, the landlord and all his staff, with every disposition in the
world to be obliging, were at their wits' end. Every one was wanted in
the dining-chamber: how could any one look after the new arrivals, or
show them their rooms on the other side of the square, or attend to
their luggage? Now it was that this young sailor began to show a touch
of authority. First of all he got the young ladies to descend, and
bundled them into the little reading-room; that was clearing the decks
for action. The last they saw of him was that he had seized a man by
the collar and was quietly, but firmly, taking him to the door,
addressing him the while in a