known what was coming, I would not have begun
this search until it was all over. What use would it be for me to find
the will if anything happened to him."

"It is clearly of no use my trying to dissuade you from carrying out
your plans, Mrs. Conway; and although I cannot altogether approve of
them, I will do my best to help you as far as lies in my power, and
you shall have the key down very shortly. How shall I send it over?"

"I have ordered a dress and some other things at Wilson's in the High
Street. The dress has to be made up, and will not be ready for a week.
I have told them there will be three or four other parcels, which they
are to put in the box and send it on by the carrier. I have ordered a
pair of boots to be made for me and one or two other things, and told
them not to close the box until this day fortnight, by which time all
the other things I have ordered will be sent in to them. I hope you
will have got the key before that."

"Oh, yes, I should think it would be done in a week at latest. You
certainly deserve success, Mrs. Conway, for you seem to provide for
every contingency."

CHAPTER XV.

IN BELGIUM.

There was a general feeling of depression in the regiment when it was
known that the transports had arrived in harbor. As a rule regiments
embarking for service abroad start in high spirits, and whatever
private regrets are felt at parting from friends, the troops march
gayly down to the point of embarkation. But this was not the case as
the Twenty-eighth with the band at its head playing "The girl I left
behind me," passed through the streets of Cork on its march down to
the spot ten miles away where the transports were lying. There was not
one from the colonel down to the youngest drummer-boy but felt that he
had been deprived of the chance of taking part in a stirring campaign,
and that he was going into a sort of exile. The baggage had been sent
on the previous day, and the regiment on arriving at the harbor was
speedily transferred in large lighters to the two transports.

"They are two fine ships, anyhow," Captain O'Connor said to Ralph as
the barge carrying his company approached the side of one of them.
"Rather different craft to that in which we made our last voyage
together. We shall have comfortable quarters on board her, and ought
to make a pleasant passage if we have but decent weather."

"Yes, if anything could make our voyage pleasant under the
circumstances," Ralph r