that John had really kissed her still remained.

'Well, some men might,' observed Bob judicially. '_I_ couldn't. Perhaps
John might. I couldn't forget _you_ in twenty times as long. Do you
know, Anne, I half thought it was you John cared about; and it was a
weight off my heart when he said he didn't.'

'Did he say he didn't?'

'Yes. He assured me himself that the only person in the hold of his
heart was this lovely play-actress, and nobody else.'

'How I should like to see her!'

'Yes. So should I.'

'I would rather it had been one of our own neighbours' girls, whose birth
and breeding we know of; but still, if that is his taste, I hope it will
end well for him. How very quick he has been! I certainly wish we could
see her.'

'I don't know so much as her name. He is very close, and wouldn't tell a
thing about her.'

'Couldn't we get him to go to the theatre with us? and then we could
watch him, and easily find out the right one. Then we would learn if she
is a good young woman; and if she is, could we not ask her here, and so
make it smoother for him? He has been very gay lately; that means
budding love: and sometimes between his gaieties he has had melancholy
moments; that means there's difficulty.'

Bob thought her plan a good one, and resolved to put it in practice on
the first available evening. Anne was very curious as to whether John
did really cherish a new passion, the story having quite surprised her.
Possibly it was true; six weeks had passed since John had shown a single
symptom of the old attachment, and what could not that space of time
effect in the heart of a soldier whose very profession it was to leave
girls behind him?

After this John Loveday did not come to see them for nearly a month, a
neglect which was set down by Bob as an additional proof that his
brother's affections were no longer exclusively centred in his old home.
When at last he did arrive, and the theatre-going was mentioned to him,
the flush of consciousness which Anne expected to see upon his face was
unaccountably absent.

'Yes, Bob; I should very well like to go to the theatre,' he replied
heartily. 'Who is going besides?'

'Only Anne,' Bob told him, and then it seemed to occur to the trumpet-
major that something had been expected of him. He rose and said
privately to Bob with some confusion, 'O yes, of course we'll go. As I
am connected with one of the--in short I can get you in for nothing, you
know.