rd, and he hesitated.

"It will look a little odd, and sudden, of course. But I don't see why
I shouldn't."

"Nor do I. We can at least begin our courtship--can't we?--to prepare
people for what is to come! Besides--if it isn't you, it will be Major
Garth, and . . . I'm a little afraid of him after last night."

"Why? What the devil did he do?"

"Nothing--nothing definite. He only spoke rather strangely before I
sent him away; and I don't want to be alone with him, if I can help it.
You see, he . . . he cares for me, Eldred; and I am afraid he thinks
now that I--care for him. Oh, I feel contemptuously wicked! But I
have been rather desperate this week, all on account of you; and I
really think it's your business to protect me from the consequences!"

"Of course it is my business, and my privilege to protect you," he
answered fervently. Her confession of dependence was sweeter to him
than honey in the honeycomb. "But you gave me an almighty snubbing the
other day when I made a clumsy attempt at it."

"Make allowances, _mon cher_, and don't fail me now."

"Fail you?" He flashed a reproachful glance at her. "I hope I may
never do that, while there's breath in my body! Trust me to be at your
right hand when we start. Mrs Desmond will have wit enough to
capture--your friend, if she sees that I want you."

"Why? Does she know all about it?"

"Just the bare facts. I told her myself."

"And he?"

"Certainly. They are one, those two, if ever man and woman achieved
the miracle."

"Does that account for his flattering attentions to me since Chumba?"

"Quite possibly."

"But that wasn't fair play! He is such a grand fellow; and I was so
proud of my small conquest!"

Her lighter mood was even more irresistible than her seriousness had
been: but Lenox palled himself together.

"Tell him so, and you'll make your conquest at once, if you've not made
it already! Hullo--there is the last breakfast bugle. Shall we go in
together? If I am doomed to fall in love with you, I may as well set
about it at once!"

Her answering look set a crown on him.

"Ah, my dear," she whispered. "In spite of all you said last night, I
am happy beyond words."

"So am I," he answered simply. "Come."

From her own area of luggage-strewn ground, Honor Desmond,--carrying
little Paul, whom she had insisted on bringing into camp,--looked after
them as they went, her glad heart in her eyes; and Desmond, coming up
fr