take place."

"No," replied the girl; "but, somehow, the world seems altogether
different now; I feel as though ten years had been added to my life.
When the war broke out, I was almost happy about it; it seemed so
splendid for those I knew to be able to go to the front and fight for
their country; war was something glorious. I shall never think about
it in that way again. Poor Lieutenant Russell died this morning. Oh,
yes, I know it was wonderful the way he bore up to the end; he thought
he was back on the battlefield, and he kept on crying, 'We're gaining
ground--we're gaining ground! That's it, lad, at 'em; we'll save
England from those beastly Germans.' And then he died; yes, it was a
glorious death. But all war is horrible, horrible! Do you know,
Captain Trevanion, I never cease wondering at the way you were rescued."

"Don't speak to me like that. Surely I am not 'Captain Trevanion' to
you; I'm 'Hector.' You've never called me by my name yet; why won't
you? I say, Nancy, can't you promise me anything definite before I go
back?"

The girl almost shuddered: "Don't talk about that now," she said.
"I--I--it's too horrible. You never described your escape to me. Tell
me all about it, will you?"

"I can't," replied Trevanion; "you see, I was unconscious."

"I got an English paper to-day," went on the girl; "I only read it a
few minutes ago."

"Read what?" There was an anxious tone in the Captain's voice.

"Here it is," she said. "Haven't you seen it?"

"No. What is it?"

"Oh, it says all sorts of fine things about you. Of course, you'll
soon be promoted as a consequence. But don't you see, the paper says
that a Lieutenant Nancarrow, learning of your danger, went right out
into the open, braving the German fire in order to get at you. It is
spoken of as one of the bravest deeds of the war. Didn't you know
about it? You tell me nothing."

"You see, I was unconscious," repeated Trevanion; "all I know is that
some fellow, unknown to me, did a splendid deed and brought me back to
the English lines."

"Then you never saw your rescuer?"

"No," replied the Captain quietly; "I was packed off here. Of course,
it was fine on the part of that fellow, whoever he was. Some day I
hope I shall have the chance of thanking him."

The girl looked away across the peaceful countryside, and, as she did
so, a tremulous sigh escaped her.

"What are you thinking about?" asked Trevanion.

"Oh--nothing--t