ds, or somewhere.'

I could scarce help a smile, as I promised not to forget the commission.

'And now, my dear, how did his grace receive you? You saw him this
morning?'

'My interview was quite satisfactory on the main point. I am appointed
to the Twenty-seventh.'

'Why not on the staff, dear John? You surely don't mean to leave
England! Having been abroad already--in Ireland I mean--it's very hard
to expect you to go so soon again. Lady Jane Colthurst's son has never
been farther from her than Knightsbridge; and I'm sure I don't see why
we are to be treated worse than she is.'

'But my own wish----'

'Your own wish, my dear, could never be to give me uneasiness, which I
assure you you did very considerably while in Ireland. The horrid people
you made acquaintance with--my health, I'm certain, could never sustain
a repetition of the shock I experienced then.'

My mother leaned back and closed her eyes, as if some very dreadful
circumstance was passing across her memory; and I, half ashamed of the
position to which she would condemn me, was silent.

'There, that aigrette will do very well there, I'm sure. I don't know
why you are putting in all these things; I shall never want them again,
in all likelihood.'

The depressed tone in which these words were spoken did not affect me
much; for I knew well, from long habit, how my mother loved to dwell
on the possibility of that event, the bare suggestion of which, from
another, she couldn't have endured.

Just at this moment Julia entered in her travelling dress, a shawl
thrown negligently across her shoulders.

'I hope I have not delayed you. John, are we to have your company too?'

'No, my dear,' said my mother languidly, 'he's going to leave us. Some
foolish notion of active service----'

'Indeed!' said Julia, not waiting for the conclusion of the
speech--'indeed!' She drew near me, and as she did so her colour became
heightened, and her dark eyes grew darker and more meaning. 'You never
told me this!'

'I only knew it about an hour ago myself,' replied I coolly; 'and when I
was about to communicate my news to you I found you were engaged with a
visitor--Lord de Vere, I think.'

'Ah, yes, very true; he was here,' she said quickly; and then perceiving
that my eyes were fixed upon her, she turned her head hastily, and in
evident confusion.

'Dear me, is it so late?' said my mother with a sigh. 'I have some calls
to make yet. Don't you think, John, you c