tting and worrying because Max was unhappy, Destiny was
slowly moving forward her chessmen, in the ranks of which we none of us
knew what parts we were to play. Looking back at that time, I am struck
by two strange facts. If my mother could see sufficiently far into the
future to entertain vague fears upon Max's account, and the latter,
forewarned by fate, perhaps, thought it necessary to make me swear that
we should ever remain friends, how was it that they could not see
further? Had they done so, Max would have----but there, we could not
see, so what more remains to be said? Let me return, therefore, to the
point at which I broke off.

I had retired to rest for upwards of an hour when I caught the sound of
a door being shut further along the corridor, and a moment later of a
soft footfall outside my room. I wondered who it could be, for there was
no room save Max's and my own in that quarter of the house, and I did
not know of any one who would be likely to visit it. As I listened, the
footfalls were accompanied by something that was very like a sob. I
could restrain my curiosity no longer, but, springing from my bed,
opened the door and looked out. A figure was making its way towards the
main portion of the house, and one glance was sufficient to show me that
it was my mother. She had been to Max's room, and was returning to her
own, weeping bitterly. Had there been the remotest chance of my catching
her, I should have run after her and attempted to comfort her, but I was
too late. Feeling as if I were the cause of her unhappiness, I returned
to bed, and once more set to work to try and unravel the mystery that
surrounded us. Had I been able to guess what the future had in store for
us, I might have been able to set it right. I wonder if I should have
had the pluck to do so? In my own heart I like to think it possible.

CHAPTER V.

In course of time and in accordance with the parental plans, Max had
joined a regiment, the 123rd Lancers, and was quartered in the Midlands,
while I was to embark upon my quest for military distinction as soon as
I should be old enough for a commission. Eventually I was gazetted to a
lieutenancy in Her Majesty's Household Cavalry. This necessitated my
living in town; a distinct change from the quiet country life I had
hitherto led. I was fortunate in being kindly received by my brother
officers, and as my father and mother's friends went out of their way to
show me attention, it