uties were of The most nominal
description. There were the usual number of hollow pated lads on board,
who buzzed in their usual feeble way round Miss Hannay, and were one
after another duly snubbed. Miss Hannay has plenty of spirits, and a
considerable sense of humor, and I think that she enjoyed the voyage
thoroughly. And now let us talk of something else."

After an hour's chat the Doctor started on his round of calls upon the
ladies; the Major had not come in from the orderly room, and, after the
Doctor left, Isobel Hannay was again the topic of conversation.

"She is out and out the prettiest girl in the station," the Adjutant
said to some of the officers who had not seen her. "She will make quite
a sensation; and there are five or six ladies in the station, whose
names I need hardly mention, who will not be very pleased at her coming.
She is thoroughly in good form, too; nothing in the slightest degree
fast or noisy about her. She is quiet and self-possessed. I fancy she
will be able to hold her own against any of them. Clever? I should say
'certainly'; but, of course, that is from her face rather than from
anything she said. I expect half the unmarried men in the station will
be going wild over her. You need not look so interested, Wilson; the
matter is of no more personal interest to you than if I were describing
a new comet. Nothing less than a big civilian is likely to carry off
such a prize, so I warn you beforehand you had better not be losing your
heart to her."

"Well, you know, Prothero, subalterns do manage to get wives sometimes."

There was a laugh.

"That is true enough, Wilson; but then, you see, I married at home;
besides, I am adjutant, which sounds a lot better than subaltern."

"That may go for a good deal in the regiment," Wilson retorted, "but
I doubt if there are many women that know the difference between
an adjutant and a quartermaster. They know about colonels, majors,
captains, and even subalterns; but if you were to say that you were an
adjutant they would be simply mystified, though they might understand if
you said bandmaster. But I fancy sergeant major would sound ever so much
more imposing."

"Wilson, if you are disrespectful, I shall discover tomorrow, on parade,
that No. 3 Company wants a couple of hours' extra drill badly, and then
you will feel how grievous a mistake it is to cheek an adjutant."

The report of those who had called at the Major's was so favorable that
curi