ng them so close? There is always something going on. A
cricket match to-morrow, I believe. Louise and I are going to play.
Mrs. Malevey--she's the Colonel's wife, you know persuaded us into it."

"And your mother?" Brooks asked a minute or two later.

Selina tossed her head.

"Mother is so foolish," she declared. "She misses the sound of the
trains, and she actually calls the place dead alive, because she can't
sit at the windows and see the tradesmen's carts and her neighbours go
by. Isn't it ridiculous?"

Brooks hesitated.

"I suppose so," he answered. "Your mother can have her friends out
here, though. It really is only a short drive to Medchester."

"She won't have them oftener than I can help," Selina declared,
doggedly. "Old Mrs. Mason called the other day when Captain Meyton and
Mrs. Malevey were here. It was most awkward. But I don't know why I
tell you all these things," she declared, abruptly. "Somehow I always
feel that you are quite an old friend."

Selina's languishing glance was intercepted by one of her admirers from
the barracks, as she had intended it to be. Brooks went off to play his
shot and returned smiling.

"I am only too happy that you should feel so," he declared. "Your
father was very kind to me."

"Isn't it almost a pity that you didn't stay in Medchester, Mr.
Brooks?" Selina remarked, with a faint note of patronage in her tone.
"Papa is so much more influential now, you know, and he was always so
fond of you."

"It is rather a pity," Brooks remarked, with twinkling eyes. "One can't
foresee these things, you know."

Selina felt it time to bestow her attention elsewhere, and the game soon
came to an end. The girls glanced at the clock and reluctantly
withdrew.

"Remember, Miss Bullsom, that we are relying upon you to-morrow," the
younger of the two officers remarked, as he opened the door. "Two
o'clock sharp--but you lunch with Mrs. Malevey first, don't you?"

"We shan't forget," Selina assured him, graciously. "Good-night."

The two young men left soon afterwards. Mr. Bullsom mixed himself a
whisky-and-soda, and stood for a few minutes on the hearthrug before
retiring.

"You're not up to the mark, Brooks, my boy," he said, kindly.

Brooks shrugged his shoulders. "I am about as usual," he answered.

Mr. Bullsom set down his glass.

"Look here, Brooks," he said, "you've given me many a useful piece of
advice, even when you used to charge me six and eightpence for it. I'm