o I didn't go on."

"Where did you find that? I never saw it." As he read, his brow grew
dark, and he pondered several minutes; while Cecil, devoured with
curiosity, and half-apprehensive of evil, remained silent.

"Will you get me a railway-guide, Cecil? There's one in the dining-room."

She complied, most unwillingly.

"Are you really going, Bertie?"

"I must, to-night."

"Why?" she more looked than asked.

He glanced through the letter again, and tossed it to her. "You see I
have no secrets from you, Cecil, though I should not care for any one
else in the house to be acquainted with its contents."

It was a confidential letter from his Colonel, saying, if absolutely
necessary, he would give him more sick leave; but advising him, if
possible, to return at once and settle some of his most urgent
liabilities, which, having repeatedly come to his ears, he could no
longer avoid taking notice of, unless he took steps to get the more
serious ones shortly arranged.

"What _will_ you do, Bertie?"

"I don't know that anything but jumping into the Lachine Rapids would
solve the difficulty," returned he, lightly; "and even that must be
deferred till the river is open."

"How much is it?" impatiently.

"I dare say six hundred might soothe the chief's sense of propriety, and
give one a little breathing-time. But I can't get that, so the smash must
come a little sooner than it otherwise would."

"You tell me that, and tie my hands by refusing to let me help you.
Bertie, if you could just hold on till August, when I might draw any
cheques I pleased--"

"You dearest little angel!" interrupted Du Meresq, warmly; "what have I
done that you should be so kind to me? But all women are alike--generous
and true-hearted when a fellow is down in the world; and--"

"Then you promise? You will count on the money?" said Cecil, not much
flattered at being supposed only to act up to the inevitable instincts
of her sex.

"Good heavens, Cecil! no; I am not such an unprincipled brute as to rob
you of a penny. Under no possible circumstances could I touch--"

"Under _no possible_ circumstances?" leapt out before she could restrain
her speech. Had the meaning escaped him, the eloquent blood which rushed
over neck and brow must have betrayed it completely.

Bertie, who had been speaking without motive, was taken by surprise as
the sense of her impulsive words flashed on his brain.

"My darling Cecil!"

Cecil, the colour of a ca