candidates with stronger claims on those who had the power to make the
appointment.

Mrs. Chudleigh had already been at work in different quarters, but she
thought Colonel Challoner the most likely man to help her, though he
might be difficult to persuade and she could not hurry him. She had
moreover had several confidential talks with Lieutenant Walters and had
extracted a good deal of information. This enabled her to form a
plausible theory of what had happened during the night attack, and she
was inclined to think that even an experienced soldier could not find
much fault with the conclusions she had arrived at, but she did not
wish to make use of it unless compelled.

When it was getting dark one evening Foster, who was crossing a meadow
with two young men carrying guns dropped behind to speak to a keeper as
Mrs. Chudleigh and Millicent came forward to meet the party. Soon
afterwards he joined his wife, who had waited for him, and they walked
to the house behind the others.

"How did you get on at the Seymours' this afternoon?" he asked. "Did
Ada air her views for the benefit of your friends?"

Mrs. Foster laughed, for Ada Seymour was a lady with strong opinions
which she was fond of proclaiming.

"Yes," she said; "in fact, she went farther than usual and rather
forgot her manners. After a while Mrs. Chudleigh took exception to
something she said and Miss Graham was drawn into the argument.
Somewhat to my surprise, she supported Ada and spoke really well, but
Ada was getting angry and I was so busy trying to smooth things down
that I hardly know what it was all about."

"The degeneracy of the age and the insidious influence of luxury no
doubt. Ada can't keep off these topics and she makes some surprising
statements when she warms up, but I'm not surprised that Mrs. Chudleigh
and Miss Graham took opposite sides."

"Why?"

"They're very different types; about as different as a moonlight night
and a spring morning."

Mrs. Foster looked at him sharply and he chuckled.

"Not often so poetical, am I? But I prefer the bright morning;
moonlight's a tricky, elusive thing, apt to dazzle and mislead one.
However, does Mrs. Chudleigh intend to remain long? She looks like a
fixture."

"She doesn't inconvenience you."

"Not at all. She's amusing and that and moderate good looks are all
you expect from a woman, so long as you don't mean to marry her. I'm
interested in your friend; very much so, although