g influence on the Colonel, who was rapidly attaining that
harmless frame of mind in which, as the saying goes, "a child might play
with him."

But a sudden ring at the door-bell, followed by the announcement of the
surgeon of the regiment, brought on a relapse. What man does not hate
being interrupted at dinner? And the doctor's report was sufficiently
vague to re-kindle Cecil's fears, and create uncomfortable misgivings in
the mind of her step-mother.

Du Meresq, he said, was suffering intense pain in the head, and a small
bone in the ankle was broken, which he had set; but he could not be
certain there was no internal injury, etc.

Mrs. Rolleston hastened away to Bertie, and did not return; and poor
Cecil, not daring to show her anxiety, remained to entertain her father,
or rather to listen to his irritable remarks on this unlucky expedition
for the rest of the evening.

Never was there a more fractious patient than Du Meresq as he lay
listlessly on the sofa, while the bone reunited. He had speculated on
many a stolen walk with Bluebell in that unfrequented wood, where they
would be far less liable to interruption than at "The Maples." He thought
of his cavalier parting with her,--a bracing tonic,--necessitated by the
self-betrayal of her dejected air, but which he expected to have
explained away in a most agreeable manner before now. It would never do
to write from this house. What a shame it was sending her away--for a
mistake, too, for they had got the saddle on the wrong horse. "Still," he
thought, "it is a bore when girls take things _au grand serieux_. Lilla
Tremaine is quite different, as jolly as possible, but never expects
impossibilities. Now Cecil and Bluebell are never satisfied without one's
swearing one cares for nobody else. At least, Cecil isn't, though I don't
think I ever quite said that to her yet. It doesn't matter telling
Bluebell so, and she looks so pleased, and believes every word of it. I
would marry that child if I could afford it." And then visions of debt,
ever pressing, harassed his mind. "Well, it could not last much longer;
there would be something left out of the fire when he sold out, and he
could try Australia, or the Gold Coast, or--he didn't care what."

But such subjects were not exhilarating, lying alone in the smoking-room,
and at last he rang a hand-bell, and told the servant to ask Miss
Rolleston to come and sit with him.

Cecil complied at once, but brought with her a c