sorry for you," she began.

"It is too terrible!" he exclaimed. "Both in one day."

He had heard of Balaclava, then.

"But I can't talk about it to-day. I will call on you to-morrow, if I
may, in the morning. I am going back to England almost at once."

He came next day, and she received him in her little sitting-room at
Misseri's.

"You know how I feel for you," she said, giving him both her hands,
her fine eyes full of tears. "They were such splendid young fellows,
too. It is so sad--so very sad."

"I am very grateful for your sympathy. But we will not talk about
them, please," interrupted Lord Lydstone.

"You have my warmest and most affectionate sympathy. Is there anything
I can do to console you, to prove to you how deeply, how sincerely, I
feel for you?"

Her voice faltered, and she seemed on the point of breaking down.

"What news have you of the general?" asked Lord Lydstone, rather
abruptly, as though to change the conversation.

"Good enough. He is all right," said Mrs. Wilders, dismissing inquiry
for her husband in these few brusque words.

"I can't think of him just now," she went on. "It is you and your
great sorrow that fill all my heart. Oh, Lydstone! dear Lord Lydstone,
the pity of it!"

This tender commiseration was very captivating. But the low, sweet
voice seemed to have lost its charm.

"I think I told you yesterday, Mrs. Wilders, that I intended to return
to England," said Lord Lydstone, in a cold, hard voice.

"Yes; when do you start?"

"To-morrow, I think. Have you any commands?"

"You do not offer me a passage home?"

"Well, you see, I am travelling post haste," he answered. "I shall
only go in the yacht as far as Trieste, and then on overland. I fear
that would not suit you?"

"I should be perfectly satisfied"--she was not to be put off--"with
any route, provided I go with you."

"You are very kind, Mrs. Wilders," he said, more stiffly, but visibly
embarrassed. "I think, however, that as I shall travel day and night I
had better--"

"In other words, you decline the pleasure of my company," she said, in
a voice of much pique.

It was very plain that she had no longer any influence over him.

"But why are you in such a desperate hurry, Lord Lydstone?" she went
on.

"I have had letters, urging me to hurry home. My father and mother are
most anxious to see me; and now, after what has happened, it is right
that I should be at their side."

"You are a good son, Lord L