a visit to England. There was no reason why
he should not enjoy the immense pleasure of seeing his friend again, and
of course his sister. It would do him all the good in the world.

So he started with gladness to visit once more the land to which he had
been unwillingly conveyed as a prisoner some seven years before. The old
welcome was renewed with yet greater heartiness, and Tournier felt for
the first time at home since his mother's death. Only, at their first
greeting, he thought it proper to shew a little sort of restraint in
addressing Alice, and he could not but notice that this assumed restraint
made her beaming face look rather grave.

{The House of the Commandant. New the residence of J. A. Herbert, Esq.,
J.P. From photo. by Rev. E. H. Brown: p168.jpg}

One of the first things Tournier said he must see was the barracks.

"They have just finished pulling them all down," said Cosin. "Every
building except Major Kelly's house, and the officers' quarters has been
removed and the material sold by auction. However, you would like to see
the old spot. I am sorry I cannot go with you to-morrow, but Alice can
shew you the way if you have forgotten it!"

So they rode there the next morning.

"It seems like a dream," said Tournier, as he gazed for a long while upon
the site where, as he too well knew, so many hearts had ached for years.
"Who is going to live in the house of Major Kelly?"

"He has bought it for himself, but he is not there now."

"How I should have liked to see him. He was a fine officer and an
excellent man. And now, Miss Cosin, will you mind going with me to
another spot more interesting to me than even this, I mean the prisoners'
burial ground, where my body would now have been laid but for your dear
brother and you?"

That last word would have made Alice willing to go anywhere, and she
cheerfully consented to pay the rather doleful visit.

When they reached the portion of the field where the interments had taken
place, they let their horses nibble the grass, and silently surveyed the
scanty mounds.

Tournier was lost in thought, and Alice watched him.

"Poor fellows, poor fellows," he said at length: "how many of them I have
known! Some of them were in my squadron. Nearly all young, or in the
prime of life--all dead before their time, worn out or broken-hearted."

"How many, do you think, are buried here?" asked Alice.

"Roughly speaking, I should say at least three or fou