the house, and, passing through the gate, strode up the
well-remembered pathway, and administered a sounding _rat-tat_ at the
door. A smart, fresh-looking maid-servant answered the summons, and, on
his inquiry for Miss Walford, showed him into the familiar parlour, and
asked for his name.

"Captain Leicester," answered George.

"Yes, sir, certainly, sir," said the girl, eyeing George with such
undisguised curiosity and admiration as showed that she had undoubtedly
heard some portion at least of his story. "Missus 'll be down in a
minute, sir. Please to take a seat, sir."

George settled himself comfortably in a chair near the fire, and,
looking round at the well-remembered pictures and "curios" which still
adorned the room, fell into a reverie in which his mind travelled
backward and took him again in imagination through all that had happened
to him since he last sat in that room. From this he was brought back
abruptly to the present by the opening of the door and the entrance of
Lucy.

Ah! how George's heart leapt within his bosom as he looked at her. She
was just the same charming girl as when he had seen her last, and yet
there was a subtle difference. She was a trifle more womanly, her form
was more fully developed, and if she was a shade paler, it only made her
loveliness more distractingly bewitching than ever.

"Lucky Ned!" thought George. "To have been the chosen lover of such a
woman as this--ay, though only for a few short hours, how willingly
would I change places with you!"

"So you have come at last, captain," said Lucy, offering her delicate
little hand. "I was beginning to think that, with all the honours which
have been showered upon you, you had quite forgotten your former
friends."

"No, Lucy, I have not," answered George; "I have not forgotten one of
them--least of all have I forgotten you. Forgotten! Why, I have never
ceased to remember you; I do not believe a single waking hour has passed
over my head since we last met, that I have not thought of you."

Lucy laughed blithely; she saw by the earnestness of his manner that he
was speaking the literal truth; he had _not_ forgotten her, and all
would yet be well.

"Fie, fie, captain," said she, "it is easily to be seen that you have
been to court; you have learned so thoroughly the art of flattery."

"Ha!" exclaimed George, "have you heard of my visit to his Majesty,
then?"

"Yes, indeed," answered Lucy, "I have heard not only th