rly,
send him things, and make him buy himself out
when he sees he has been foolish and wicked in supposing
that he has publicly disgraced himself and his
name and us. And I'm going to make Grandfather's
life a misery, and go about skinny and ragged and
weeping, and say: '_This_ is how you treat the
daughter of your dead friend, you wicked, cruel,
unjust old man,' until he relents and sends for Dam
and gets him into the Army properly.... But I
am afraid Dam will think it his silly duty to flee
from me and all my works, and hide himself where
the names of de Warrenne and Stukeley are unknown
and cannot be disgraced.

"I rely on you, Ormonde,

"Your ashamed grateful friend,

"LUCILLE GAVESTONE."

Second Lieutenant Delorme rang the bell.

"Bradshaw," he said, as his soldier-servant appeared. "And get me a
telegraph form."

"Yussir," said Private Billings, and marched to the Mess ante-room
purposefully, with hope in his heart that Mr. Delorme 'ad nothink less
than a 'alf dollar for the telegram and would forgit to arx for the
chainge, as was his occasional praiseworthy procedure.

Mr. Delorme, alas, proved to have a mean and vulgar shilling, the
which he handed to Private Billings with a form containing the
message:--

"Can do. So cheer up. Writing his adjutant, pal of mine. Coming over
Saturday if get leave. Going Shorncliffe if necessary. Leave due. Dam
all right. Will blow over. Thanks for letting me help."

"'Fraid they don' give no tick at the Telegraft Orfis, Sir," observed
Private Billings, who, as quondam "trained observer" of his troop, had
noted the length of the telegram and the shortness of the allowance
therefor.

"What the deuce...?"

"This is more like a 'alf-dollar job, Sir," he groaned, waving the
paper, "wot wiv' the haddress an' all."

"Oh--er--yes, bit thick for a bob, perhaps; here's half a sov...."

"_That's_ more like '_'Eres to yer_,' Mr. D----" remarked the good
man--outside the door. "And don't yer werry about trifles o' chainge.
Be a gent!"

* * * * *

Lucille read and re-read the telegram in many ways.

"Can do so. Cheer up. Writing his adjutant. Pal of mine coming over
Saturday. If get leave going Shorncliffe if necessary leave due Dam.
All right will blow over thanks." No, _that_ wouldn't do.

(What a pity people _would_ not remember when writing telegrams that
the stops and capitals they put are ignored b