r all that. Every day has its own story of some dashing
bit of bravery, that sets us all wild with excitement, while we wonder
to ourselves what do you all think of us in England. Here comes an order
to summon all to close their letters, and so I shut up, with my fondest
affection to the dear old dad and yourself.

"'Ever yours,

"'Jack Kellett.

"'As I don't suppose you'll see it in the "Gazette," I may as well say
that I 'm to be made a corporal on my return to duty. It's a long way
yet to major-general, but at least I 'm on the road, Bella.'"

"A corporal! a corporal!" exclaimed Kellett; "may I never, if I know
whether it's not a dream. Paul Kellett's eldest son--Kellett of
Kellett's Court--a corporal!"

"My father's prejudices all attach to the habits of his own day," said
Bella, in a low voice, to the soldier,--"to a time totally unlike the
present in everything."

"Not in everything, Miss Kellett," said the youth, with a quiet smile.
"Jack has just told you that all the old ardor, all the old spirit,
is amongst the troops. They are the sons and grandsons of the gallant
fellows that beat the French out of Spain."

"And are _you_ going back?" asked Kellett, half moodily, and scarcely
knowing what he said.

"They won't have me," said the soldier, blushing as he looked at his
empty sleeve; "they want fellows who can handle a Minie rifle."

"Oh, to be sure--I ought to have known--I was forgetting," stammered he
out, confusedly; "but you have your pension, anyhow."

"I've a kind old mother, which is better," said the youth, blushing
deeper again. "She only gave me a short leave to run over and see Jack
Kellett's family; for she knows Jack, by name at least, as if he were
her own."

To Bella's questions he replied that his mother had a small cottage near
Bettws, at the foot of Snowdon; it was one of the most picturesque spots
of all Wales, and in one of those sunny nooks where the climate almost
counterfeits the South of Europe.

"And now you'll go back, and live tranquilly there," said the girl, half
dreamily, for her thoughts were wandering away Heaven knows where.

The youth saw the preoccupation, and arose to take his leave. "I shall
be writing to Jack to-morrow, Captain Kellett," said he. "I may say I
have seen you well and hearty, and I may tell the poor fellow--I 'm
sure you 'll let me tell him--that you have heartily forgiven him?" Old
Kellett shook his head mournfully; and the other went on: "It'