he wanted, and if he were willing to cut the army for
her sake and live mostly in England. She wasn't an ill-natured or
sharp-tongued girl when things went as she wished, I reflected, and if
he were content to sacrifice his career for love of her, they might get
on very well together. But--what _desolating_ words to use in connection
with Eagle March--"get on well together!" He wasn't one to be satisfied
with mere contentment, where he had hoped for rapture.

I sat with my ears stopped, until suddenly the two began speaking in a
much louder tone; and a third voice, that of a man, joined the
conversation. Then I decided that I might come back to life again; and
as I let my tired arms drop, I became aware that the newcomer was Sidney
Vandyke. He was telling Di that this was his dance, and that he had been
looking for her everywhere.

"I heard Kilburn mention that the Old Man had sent for you, March, and I
know they're on your scent," he announced.

"In that case, I may not see you again, Lady Diana," Eagle said.

"Peggy and I are going with Mrs. Kilburn and a lot of others to wave to
you for good luck, when you start," answered Di, rather nervously, I
thought.

"I'm glad. We shall have a last glimpse of you all," replied Eagle. "But
I'm afraid I shan't get a word with you then. So I'll bid you good-bye
now!"

He spoke in quite a matter-of-fact way; but I, who knew every tone of
his voice, guessed what it covered; and I could almost feel the pressure
of his hand as it clasped Di's, with Major Vandyke mercilessly looking
on. I wondered whether she had been cruel or kind.

In a moment he was gone; and with a stab of pain I realized that, if the
colonel had sent for him, he must miss out his dance with me. Would he
even remember it? Would he scribble me a line of farewell? I longed to
run out and catch him before he went, if only for a word, but I dared
not dash past Di, and give her the shock of learning that I had been
within three yards of her all the time. Again I was trapped, unless Di
and Major Vandyke should go indoors to dance; but no sooner was Eagle
March out of earshot than Vandyke asked Di to stay.

"Of course we've known all along that we might get marching orders," he
said, and there was no harm in my hearing that. "It's a surprise only to
those outside. The adjutant has been fussing over stores and ammunition,
and target practice has been a confounded bore. All the same, at the end
the move's been spru