es, our blood
boils!'

'Well, darling, you will never know actual want, that is my comfort.
How I wish I could offer you a home now! but I have been advised so
strongly to go with this party that I feel I ought not to refuse. It
will only be a matter of six months, I hope, and then I shall take you
away from your country retreat altogether.'

'I sometimes wish----' Clare stopped.

'Well, what?'

'I was going to say I wish you were not in the army, but that is wrong.
I do so much prefer a settled home to the incessant change in the
service.'

Captain Knox's brows clouded a little, for he was a keen soldier, and
was devoted to his corps, which was the Royal Engineers.

'But, Clare, I have heard you say before that you do not care for a gay
town life, nor a quiet country one; so what do you like?'

'I don't know what I like,' she said, laughing; 'generally it is what I
haven't got. Don't mind my grumblings. I shall be so tired of the
country, and the dull monotony of it all, by the time you come back,
that I shall fly to you with open arms, and entreat you to take me into
the very midst of garrison gaiety.'

Captain Knox smiled, though he still looked perplexed. Clare's moods,
and contradictions of humour, were inexplicable to a man of his frank,
straightforward nature. Yet she was so sweetly penitent after a fit of
discontent, and so delightful in her waywardness, that he only loved
her the more, and found, as so many others do, that woman is a problem
that few masculine brains can solve.

Whilst the two lovers were enjoying their _tete-a-tete_, Elfie had
crept upstairs to see Nannie, and a gravity had settled on her usually
sunny face as she entered her nurse's room.

'Have you come for a chat, Miss Elfie?' inquired the old woman,
brightening at the sight of her.

'Yes, Nannie. I have been thinking over my verse that you gave me. I
can't get it out of my head. It is a very lovely one, but very
difficult to put into practice, I should think.'

'Why, surely, no, my dear! And for you 'tis easier than most.'

'That is because I always say I find it is easy to be happy. But,
Nannie, delighting oneself in the Lord is a very different thing.'

'Ay, but the lark that rises with his song, and the flowers that turn
their faces to the sun, or soft refreshing showers, don't find it
difficult to delight themselves in the air and sunshine. I think, Miss
Elfie, you are one of the Lord's dear children, are