fatigue.

And then came the inevitable end.

* * * * *

So Doggie crept into the Savoy Hotel and hid himself there, wishing he
were dead. It was some time before he could write the terrible letter
to Peggy. He did so on the day when he saw that his resignation was
gazetted. He wrote after many anguished attempts:

"DEAR PEGGY,--

"I haven't written before about the dreadful thing that has
happened, because I simply couldn't. I have resigned my
commission. Not of my own free will, for, believe me, I would
have gone through anything for your sake, to say nothing of the
country and my own self-respect. To put it brutally, I have been
thrown out for sheer incompetence.

"I neither hope nor expect nor want you to continue your
engagement to a disgraced man. I release you from every
obligation your pity and generosity may think binding. I want
you to forget me and marry a man who can do the work of this new
world.

"What I shall do I don't know. I have scarcely yet been able to
think. Possibly I shall go abroad. At any rate I shan't return
to Durdlebury. If women sent me white feathers before I joined,
what would they send me now? It will always be my consolation to
know that you once gave me your love, in spite of the pain of
realizing that I have forfeited it by my unworthiness.

"Please tell Uncle Edward that I feel keenly his position, for
he was responsible for getting me the commission through General
Gadsby. Give my love to my Aunt, if she will have it.

"Yours always affectionately,
J. MARMADUKE TREVOR."

By return of post came the answer:

"DEAREST,--

"We are all desperately disappointed. Perhaps we hurried on
things too quickly and tried you too high all at once. I ought
to have known. Oh, my poor dear boy, you must have had a
dreadful time. Why didn't you tell me? The news in the 'Gazette'
came upon me like a thunderbolt. I didn't know what to think.
I'm afraid I thought the worst, the very horrid worst--that you
had got tired of it and resigned of your own accord. How was one
to know? Your letter was almost a relief.

"In offering to release me from my engagement you are acting
like the honourable gentleman you are. Of course, I can
understand your feelin