and with the inherent curiosity of her
sex was dying to hear more about it.

"And what became of the girl? Did she marry--someone else?"

"Which girl? Oh--I suppose so! I went out to India and lost sight of
her. I did not want to see her again. I hope she settled down with a
good fellow who could take care of her. Hullo, what's this?"

The man-servant had entered the room with a tray, which he proceeded to
place on a table by Jill's side. It contained the usual paraphernalia
for afternoon tea, but it appeared that the General did not as a rule
indulge in this meal, hence his astonishment at its appearance.

"Thought the young lady would like some, eh? Quite right--quite right.
You keep me up to my duties as usual! Johnson has been with me for the
last thirty years!" he explained to his guests. "We fought together in
the East, and I should get on badly without him nowadays. Now, my dear,
help yourself. You are the lady of the party, so you must preside."

Jill pulled off her gloves, gave a surreptitious lick to an ink-stain on
the second finger of her right hand, rubbed it dry on the side of her
dress, and proceeded to do the honours with equal self-possession and
enjoyment. If Betty could see her now! A real General with a man-
servant to wait upon him! It was a hundred times more important and
exciting than Mrs Vanburgh and her governesses!

"Have you got any medals--Victoria Crosses and things?" she asked, with
a view to adding point to her account of the interview, and the General
gave a loud guffaw of amusement.

"A selection of Victoria Crosses! Eh, what? No, I am sorry to say I
have not; only one or two medals, such as any man might possess who has
served the same number of years. Where are they? In a drawer in my
bedroom, of course! You don't expect me to hang them up on the wall, do
you?"

"Yes, I do. I should! Where everyone would see and ask questions about
them. I'd wear them, too, whenever I possibly could!" cried Jill,
unabashed, and once more the General shook his head and exclaimed--

"Woman, woman!" in a tone of tragic significance.

When the meal was over, however, he yielded to Jack's entreaties, and
escorted his visitors into the adjoining bedroom, where various warlike
trophies reposed with the medals in the drawers of an old cabinet. The
boy's interest was intense, but Jill soon wearied and turned to inspect
the general furnishing of the room. It was very bare and