he was
particularly interested in the latter point. I've been incautious and
let my tongue run away with me."

Then she took up her book while Millicent read her letter. Though
young and to some extent inexperienced, her judgment was generally
sound, and she had come to see how Sedgwick really regarded her. She
had pleased his eye, and he was a man who would boldly grasp at what
delighted him, but love would not be permitted to interfere with his
ambitions. He wrote in a tone of forced and insincere sentiment, and
his words brought a blush into Millicent's face as well as a rather
bitter smile into her eyes. By and by she tore the sheet into pieces
and dropped them over the steamer's rail. That affair was ended.

As the fragments of paper fluttered astern Mrs. Keith looked up. "You
are treating somebody's letter very unceremoniously."

"Perhaps I am," said Millicent. "It's from Captain Sedgwick."

"Ah!" exclaimed Mrs. Keith. "Has he anything of interest to say?"

"He mentions that he is going back to Africa sooner than he expected
because the officer above him has suffered so much from the climate
that he has asked to be relieved of his post. Captain Sedgwick
believes this will give him a chance of advancement."

"Then I've no doubt he'll make the most of it. I suppose he doesn't
waste much pity on his unfortunate chief? The man's personal interest
stands first with him."

"Isn't that the usual thing with men?"

"There are exceptions. Colonel Challoner, for instance, threw up his
career when he found he was forced to act against his convictions, and
I've a suspicion that another man I know made as great a sacrifice.
However, Sedgwick will make every effort to get the vacant post, and I
wonder whether he told Mrs. Chudleigh how matters stood. She may have
had a letter before you did."

Millicent knew her employer's penetration, but did not understand the
drift of her remarks.

"I dare say he wrote to her. She told us they were old friends. But
why should it interest you?"

"It does," Mrs. Keith rejoined. "I have a habit of putting things
together and drawing my conclusions, though, of course, I'm now and
then mistaken. Whether I'm right or not in the present instance time
will show, but I must try to watch the woman when we go home." Then
she added sharply: "As you have torn it up, you don't mean to answer
Sedgwick's letter?"

"No," said Millicent, with a trace of colour; "I don't think