flamed and he was in the height of a fever. Against this his iron
constitution fought for two long weeks, during which he was tenderly
looked after by the nurse, and watched with anxious feeling by the
surgeons. And all this time Guy and his father and Mr Hunter hovered
outside in the depths of despair, waiting impatiently for the first good
news of their friend.

At last one day he showed signs of improvement, and two weeks later was
rapidly recovering. The change in his condition caused a wave of
gladness to spread over the beleaguered town, for Guy and his noble
comrade, to whom he unstintingly and generously gave most of the credit,
were the heroes of Ladysmith. Their adventures were detailed round many
a camp fire, and if one soldier puffed more fiercely at his pipe, and
swore beneath his breath that Jack was a downright good fellow, hundreds
did, from the officers downwards.

As for Mrs Robb, the forlorn but brave little English lady whom the two
young fellows had befriended at such risk to themselves, she was now
quite happy once more, for her husband had escaped from his captors and
had joined her in the camp.

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And now to return for one brief moment to Frampton Grange, the family
seat of the Somertons, and the amiable mistress and youth who resided
there. Jack's accident in London and his voyage to Africa had long
ceased to be topics of interest to them, and, indeed, beyond wondering
occasionally what had become of him, they never troubled themselves
about him. Jack had written to them several times, but neither Mrs
Somerton nor Frank had deigned to respond, and in consequence he had for
months kept silent, so that they had no idea of his whereabouts.

But Dr Hanly was a regular correspondent of Jack's, and when the latter
wrote and said that they were on the eve of war, and that he should
volunteer for service, the doctor sent the letter down to the Grange, so
that Mrs Somerton might read it.

Who shall say what were the thoughts of this disappointed woman, or of
the worldly son who lived with her? Frampton Grange was a charming and
luxurious residence, and the legacy to which Jack was entitled at a
certain age was by no means a small one. What if something happened to
him? Then all would come to Mrs Somerton, and in due course to Frank.
The very thought of it made the latter more unbearable, his airs and
graces grew even m