gallery played "God Save the King." The crowd
in the body of the hall, who had stood for the anthem, sat down again,
evidently waiting for Boyce and the notables to pass out. The
assemblage on the platform broke up. Several members, among them the
General, who paused to shake hands with Boyce and his mother, left the
hall by the private side door. The Lord Lieutenant and Lady Laleham
followed him soon afterwards. Then the less magnificent crowded round
Boyce, each eager for a personal exchange of words with the hero. Sir
Anthony remained at his post, keeping on the outskirts of the throng,
bidding formal adieux to those who went away. Presently I saw that
Boyce was asking for me, for someone pointed me out to his officer
attendant, who led him down the steps of the platform and round the
edge to my seat.

"Well, it has gone off all right," said he. "Let me introduce Captain
Winslow, more than ever my right-hand man--Major Meredyth."

We exchanged bows.

"The old mother's as pleased as Punch. She didn't know she was going to
get a little box of her own. I should like to have seen her face. I did
hear her give one of her little squeals. Did you?"

"No," said I, "but I saw her face. It was that of a saint in an
unexpected beatitude."

He laughed. "Dear old mother," said he. "She has deserved a show." He
turned away unconsciously, and, thinking to address me, addressed the
first row of spectators. "I suppose there's a lot of folks here that I
know."

By chance he seemed to be looking through his black glasses straight at
Betty a few feet away. She rose impulsively and, before all
Wellingsford, went up to him with hand outstretched.

"There's one at any rate, Colonel Boyce. I'm Betty Connor--"

"No need to tell me that," said he, bowing.

Winslow, at his elbow, most scrupulous of prompters, whispered:

"She wants to shake hands with you."

So their hands met. He kept hers an appreciable second or two in his
grasp.

"I hope you will accept my congratulations," said Betty.

"I have already accepted them, very gratefully. My mother conveyed them
to me. She was deeply touched by your letter. And may I, too, say how
deeply touched I am by your coming here?"

Betty looked swiftly round and her cheeks flushed, for there were many
of us within earshot. She laughed off her embarrassment.

"You have developed from a man into a Wellingsford Institution, and I
had to come and see you inaugurated. My aunts, too, are h