s very raw
and troubled by a seriousness he has since grown out of, but I thought
he would make his mark."

Mrs. Keith pondered the explanation. She could not imagine her
companion's patronizing a callow young lieutenant, but this was not
important. Admitting that a hint might have been intended for
Millicent's benefit, Mrs. Chudleigh's boldness in laying claim to the
man by suggesting that she had come out for his sake was puzzling. It
was not in good taste, but although Mrs. Chudleigh's position was
assured, there was something of the audacity of the adventuress about
her. Margaret Keith, however, had no admiration for Sedgwick, whom she
thought of as second-rate, and she was glad to believe that Millicent
did not wish to dispute the woman's right to him.

"Are you going home soon?" she asked.

"Before long, I think. There is a round of visits I have promised to
make and I may stay some time with the Fosters in Shropshire near
Colonel Challoner's place. I believe he is a friend of yours."

"He is. Have you met him?"

"Once; I found him charming. A very fine, old-fashioned gentleman, and
I understand a famous soldier. Somebody told me he never quite got
over his nephew's disgrace and seemed to think it reflected upon the
whole family. Very foolish, of course, but one can admire his sense of
honour."

Mrs. Keith began to understand why her companion had sought her. She
wished to speak about Richard Blake and Mrs. Keith was forced to
acquiesce, since he had been seen in her company.

"I suppose you know the nephew was in Montreal," she said.

"To tell the truth, I do. I saw him talking to Bertram Challoner, whom
I met in London, and the family likeness struck me. Then I saw his
name in the hotel register."

"No doubt you studied him after that. What opinion did you form?"

Mrs. Chudleigh gave her a look of thoughtful candour. "I was puzzled
and interested. I don't know him, but he did not look the man to run
away."

"He is not," Mrs. Keith declared. "I knew him as a boy, and even then
he was marked by reckless daring. What's more, I noticed very little
change in him."

"It's strange." Mrs. Chudleigh's tone was sympathetically grave. "I
feel much as you do. After all, it may have been one of the affairs
about which the truth never quite comes out."

"What do you wish to suggest by that?"

"Nothing in particular; I've no means of forming an accurate
conclusion. But the regimental ho