on
to Walcheren was still fresh in mens' minds. They would, moreover,
have preferred a campaign in which they would have fought without
being compelled to act with a foreign army, and would have had all the
honor and glory to themselves. Still Belgium recalled the triumphs of
Marlborough, and although every mail brought news of the tremendous
efforts Napoleon was making to reorganize the fighting power of
France, and of the manner in which the veterans of his former wars had
responded to the call, there was not a doubt of success in the minds
of the Twenty-eighth, from the colonel down to the youngest
drummer-boy.

Ralph was sorry that he had not been able to pay a flying visit to his
mother before his departure on active and dangerous service.

He had been somewhat puzzled by her letters ever since he had been
away. They had been almost entirely devoted to his doings, and had
said very little about herself beyond the fact that she was in
excellent health. She had answered his questions as to his various
friends and acquaintances in Dover; but these references had been
short, and she had said nothing about the details of her daily life,
the visits she paid, and the coming in of old friends to see her. She
had evidently been staying a good deal, he thought, with the Withers,
and she kept him fully informed about them, although she did not
mention when she went there or when she had returned.

She frequently spoke about the missing will, and of her hopes it would
some day be recovered; and had mentioned that the search for it was
still being maintained, and that she felt confident that sooner or
later it would come to light. But even as to this she gave him no
specific details; and he felt that, even apart from his desire to see
his mother, he should greatly enjoy a long talk with her, to find out
about everything that had been going on during his absence.

Mrs. Conway had indeed abstained from giving her son the slightest
inkling of the work upon which she was engaged; for she was sure he
would be altogether opposed to her plan, and would be greatly
disturbed and grieved at the thought of her being in any menial
position. Whether if, when he returned, and she had not attained the
object of her search she would let him know what she was doing she had
not decided; but she was determined that at any rate until he came
home on leave he should know nothing about it.

"So we are going to fight Bony at last, Mister Conway