she was in any altered position; not so,
however, Miss Prosody, who would have reduced her to the _status_ of a
nursery-maid had it been in her power.

That austere virgin was talking, or rather listening, in a sympathetic
manner to Colonel Rolleston as the girls entered the room; but her eye
had taken in every detail of Miss Leigh's costume, and disapprovingly
remarked the silver oak leaves that festooned the black-net dress, and
Maltese cross and bracelets that accompanied it, all of which she well
knew belonged to Cecil.

The three young men were talking together.

"Du Meresq," said Captain Deveril, "you get more leave than any other
fellow. You were in the Prairies in July, England in the spring, and now
here you are at large again in January."

"You must have a rattling good chief," said Mr. Vavasour, "I don't think,
Mrs. Rolleston, the Colonel is ever able to spare us quite so often."

"You see," said Bertie, "there's no demand for leave among our fellows
just now; they are all in love at Montreal, and there's so much going on
there. Lascelles most imprudently gave up his to drive Miss Ellery about
a little longer."

"Oh, ah, I know her," said young Vavasour; "girl with grey eyes, and head
always on one side when she's valsing; looks as if she was kissing her
own shoulder."

"Will she land him, do you think?" said Deveril.

"Not she," said Bertie. "I have known him in as bad a scrape before;
he'll get away to England soon; he always bolts when the family becomes
affectionate."

A discordant gong resounding through the house was followed by the
announcement of dinner.

"Come, my dear Miss Prosody," said the Colonel, complacently, leading her
forth; he hadn't near done his recital of the morning's field-day, which
required that delicate tact and judicious prompting to extort from him
that, though not really Brigadier on the occasion, his opinion and
authority had actually directed the proceedings.

Generally any amount of this affectionate incense was forthcoming from
his wife and daughter; but to-night they both seemed a little _distrait_
and occupied with Bertie, which, however, was a loss little felt with
Miss Prosody present, whose motto seemed that of the volunteers, "Always
ready," and her "soothing treatment" was certainly equal to that of
either of the others.

"It's you and I, Miss Bluebell," said young Vavasour, hastily offering
his arm, while Bertie who had hesitated an instant, gave his t