f the commissariat."

"This is interesting," broke in Sybella. "It is an extract from a
private letter of some one high in command. It says: 'The discontent
of our allies increases every day; and as every post from France only
repeats how unpopular the war is in that country, I foresee that nothing
short of some great _fait d'armes_, in which the French shall have all
the glory, will induce the Imperial Government to continue the struggle.
The satisfaction felt in France at the attacks of the English journals
on our own army, its generalship, and its organization, are already
wearing out, and they look now for some higher stimulant to the national
vanity.'"

"Who writes this?" cried Lord Glengariff, eagerly.

"The name is not given," said she. "The despatch goes on merely to say,
'Your Lordship would do well to give these words the consideration
they seem to deserve.' But here again, 'the coolness of the Marshal
increases, and our intercourse is neither frank nor confidential.'"

"All this sounds badly," said Lord Glengariff. "Our only progress would
seem to be in ill-will with our ally. I suppose the end of it will be,
we shall be left to continue the struggle alone."

"Would that it were so!" burst in Sybella. "A great orator said t' other
day in the House, that coalitions were fatal; Englishmen never liked
them. He only spoke of those alliances where parties agree to merge
their differences and unite for some common object; but far more
perilous are the coalitions where nations combine, the very contest
that they wage being a field to evoke ancient rivalries and smouldering
jealousies. I 'd rather see our little army alone, with its face to
the foe and its back to the sea, than I 'd read of our entrance into
Sebastopol side by side with the legions of France."

The passionate enthusiasm of the moment had carried her away, and she
grew pale and heart-sick at her unwonted boldness as she finished.

"I hope Mr. Dunn may be able to benefit by your opinions on strategy,"
said Lady Augusta, as she rose from the table.

"What was it Lady Augusta said?" cried Lord Glengariff, as she left the
room.

"I scarcely heard her aright, my Lord," said Sybella, whose face was now
crimson.

It was the first moment in her life in which dependence had exposed her
to insult, and she could not collect her faculties, or know what to do.

"These things," said Lord Glengariff, pushing the despatches
contemptuously away, "add noth