s were gathering in little groups, talking eagerly and
excitedly. The orders for the concentration of the divisions had
become known, though as yet all were in ignorance as to the reason for
their issue. The three officers joined some of the groups and listened
to the talk. The general idea was that the duke had heard that the
French were gathering for an attack, and these measures were merely
precautionary. It might be days yet before the affair really began.
Still it was important news; and there were pale faces among the
ladies at this sudden reminder that the assembly at Brussels was not a
mere holiday gathering, but that war, grim, earnest, and terrible, was
impending.

"We had better be getting back to our quarters," Captain O'Connor
said. "Everything will have to be packed up this evening."

"But does this mean that the troops are to be under arms all night?"
Stapleton asked.

"That it does, Stapleton. Of course they won't be kept standing in
line; but when troops are ordered to be in readiness to march at a
moment's notice, on such a business as this, it means that they will
all be assembled. Then probably they will be allowed to lie down, and
perhaps will light bivouac fires. But it means business, I can tell
you."

"Then I for one shan't go to the ball," Ralph said. "No doubt it will
be a pretty sight; but there have been lots of balls, and this bivouac
will be a new experience altogether."

"I don't know that you are wrong, Conway," Captain O'Connor said.
"Beside, you will probably find the colonel will issue orders that
only a certain number of officers may go. I shall look in for an hour
or two just to see the scene. But I don't know many people, and with a
room full of generals and colonels, and three or four men to each
lady, there won't be much chance of getting partners."

When they reached the village Stapleton said good-by to them, as his
company lay half a mile further on; and Captain O'Connor and Ralph
entered their quarters. They found their servants busy packing up the
baggage.

"What is this all about, O'Connor?" Lieutenant Desmond asked.

"It is in orders that the whole division is to assemble to-night in
readiness to march at a moment's notice. News has come that the French
have attacked the Prussian outposts, and the duke is not to be caught
napping. Of course it may be nothing but an outpost skirmish; still it
may be the beginning of operations on a grand scale."

"And there is an