the Crimea. Can nothing be done to bring him favorably
before the notice of his superiors? His gallantry has already attracted
notice; but as his real station is still unknown, his advancement has
been merely that accorded to the humblest merits. I will attend to it. I
'll write about him this very day."

"How I thank you!" cried she, fervently; and she bent down and pressed
her lips to his hand.

A cold shivering passed over Dunn as he felt the hot tears that fell
upon his hand, and a strange sense of weakness oppressed him.

"It will make your task the lighter," cried she, eagerly, "to know that
Jack is a soldier in heart and soul,--brave, daring, and high-hearted,
but with a nature gentle as a child's. There was a comrade of his here
the other day, one whose life he saved--"

"I have seen Conway," said Dunn, dryly, while he scanned her features
closely.

No change of color nor voice showed that she felt the scrutiny, and in
a calm tone she went on: "I know so little of these things that I do
not know, if my dear brother were made an officer to-morrow, whether his
want of private fortune would prevent his acceptance of the rank, but
there surely must be steps of advancement open to men poor as he is."

"You may trust all to me," interrupted Dunn. "Once that you consider me
as your guardian, I will neglect nothing that concerns you."

"Oh, how have I deserved such kindness!" cried she, trying to smother
her emotion.

"You must call me your guardian, too, and write to me as such. The world
is of such a temper that it will serve you to be thought my ward. Even
Lady Augusta Arden herself will feel the force of it." There was a kind
of rude energy in the way these last words were uttered that gave them a
character almost defiant.

"You are, then, decided that I ought to take the situation?" said
she. And already her manner had assumed the deference of one seeking
direction.

"Yes, for the present it is all that could be desired. There will be no
necessity of your continuing there if it should ever be irksome to you.
Upon this, as upon all else, I trust you will communicate freely with
me."

"I should approach an actual duty--a task--with far more confidence
than I feel in offering to accommodate myself to the ways and tempers of
utter strangers."

"Very true," said he; "but when I have told you about them they will
be strangers no longer. People are easily comprehended who have certain
strong ruling passio