r her,"
said Dunn.

"I have a plan about that, if you will kindly aid me with it," said
Conway, blushing as he spoke. "You are aware, perhaps, that Jack Kellett
and I were comrades. He saved my life, and risked his own to do it, and
I owe him more than life in the cheery, hearty spirit he inspired me
with, at a time when I was rather disposed to sulk with the whole world;
so that I owe him a heavy debt." Here he faltered, and at last stopped,
and it was only as Dunn made a gesture to him to continue, that he
went on: "Well, I have a dear, kind old mother, living all alone in
Wales,--not over well off, to be sure, but quite able to do a kind
thing, and fully as willing. If Miss Kellett could be induced to come
and stay with her,--it might be called a visit at first,--time would
gradually show them how useful they were to each other, and they 'd find
they need n't--they could n't separate. That's my plan; will you support
it?"

"I ought to tell you, frankly, that I have no presumption to counsel
Miss Kellett. I never saw her till the night you accompanied her to
my house; we are utter strangers to each other therefore. There is,
however, sufficient in your project to recommend itself, and if anything
I can add will aid it, you may reckon upon me; but you will yourself see
whether my counsels be admissible. There is only one question I
would ask,--you 'll excuse the frankness of it for the sincerity it
guarantees,--Miss Kellett, although in poverty, was the daughter of a
gentleman of fortune,--all the habits of her life were formed in that
station; now, is it likely--I mean--are your mother's circumstances--"

"My mother has something like a hundred a year in the world," broke in
Conway, hastily. "It's a poor pittance, I know, and you would be puzzled
to say how one could eke out subsistence on it, but she manages it very
cleverly."

"I had really no intention to obtrude my curiosity so far," said Dunn,
apologizing. "My object was to show you, generally, that Miss Kellett,
having hitherto lived in a condition of comfort--"

"Well, we 'll do our best--I mean my mother will," said Conway. "Only
say you will recommend the plan, and I 'm satisfied."

"And for yourself--have you no project, no scheme of life struck out?
A man so full of youth and energy should not sink into the listless
inactivity of a retired soldier."

"You forget this," said Conway, pointing to his armless sleeve.

"Many a one-armed officer leads h