the--Hussars.' Go on," said Raby.

It needed all his self-command to finish the reading, and when he came
to the end and handed back the paper, Raby perceived that his hand shook
and his face was deadly pale.

"Why, what is the matter, Mr Jeffreys?" said she, suddenly alarmed
herself; "it is good news, isn't it? and he has only got a scratch!"

"Yes, it is good news; and I congratulate you."

"But you look--perhaps you know some one who has been killed. You never
told me you had any friend out there."

"I have not. I think I must be not quite well; will you excuse me?"

And he went out into the open air, leaving Raby very much perplexed and
concerned. She was relieved, however, to see him half an hour later
starting off with Percy for what, to judge by their mountain boots and
the luncheon box strapped across Jeffreys' shoulders, promised to be a
long walk.

Jeffreys' first sensations on finding himself alone had been those of
stupefaction. Although all that he knew of Forrester's father was that
he had been in India, it never occurred to him now for a moment that the
gallant officer mentioned in the telegram could be any other than the
father whom he had so cruelly and irreparably wronged. And now once
more he seemed suddenly face to face with his crime. He saw before him
that fatal scene in the Bolsover meadow; he heard his comrades' howl of
execration and saw the boy's white face on the grass turned up to meet
his. It seemed but yesterday. Nay, it seemed all to be there that
moment; he could feel the keen breeze on his cheek; his eye rested on
the boy's cap where he had flung it; he was conscious of Mr
Freshfield's look of horror--he could even see twenty yards away the
football lying idle between the goals.

Strange, that the doubtful mention of an officer's name should call it
all up thus! But so it was. He even seemed half guilty of that gallant
death in Afghanistan. Had he not wronged him worse than death? and now
if anywhere the friendless boy, whose whole hope was in his father,
should read those lines and find himself orphaned as well as crippled!

Jeffreys in his misery groaned aloud.

"Hullo," said Percy, in the path before him, "you in the blues too!
What a jolly sell! Here am I as miserable as an owl, and everybody I
meet's miserable too. Scarfe's gone to Sharpfield, and won't be back
till late. Raby's so taken up with her precious telegram that she won't
look at me. Ma and Mrs