with that time and place, but to those who are so connected
are a subject of life-long enjoyment.

When they got back to camp each felt that one of the happiest days of
his life was drawing to a close. At mess that evening the Adjutant
announced that the Commander-in-Chief was coming down next morning, and
there would be a Field Day on the Fox Hills. They were to be brigaded
at half-past five, so the "Fall-in" would be at five.

"We are sure to be back about one," said Strachan to Harry later in the
evening. "You can wait till then, and have lunch."

"No, thank you," said Harry; "I have a lot to do before I start, and
cannot spare another day. Besides, it would not be fair to my mother.
I should have gone off early in the morning anyhow; not so early,
indeed, as you march, but by nine; so it makes no difference in my
plans, you see."

"Well, we shall breakfast at four; there is no need for you to disturb
yourself then. Get up at your own time, and order what you like, you
know."

"Thanks, you may trust me," said Harry. "But I shall see you off."
Those overnight resolutions do not always find fulfilment in the
morning. But when the companies were told off and equalised, and only
waiting for the Adjutant to call out the markers and form the parade,
Harry Forsyth emerged from the spare tent kept for guests, and went to
the reverse flank to give his two old chums a final hand-grip. Then the
Colonel appeared and mounted his horse, and they had to fall in. And
the band struck up, and the battalion trickled away, till the rear
company was clear of the ground, and Harry found himself alone.

"Poor old Kavanagh!" he murmured. "Strachan does not matter half so
much. If he gets spun he has two more chances; and if he fails to get
into the Line, then his friends have money and interest to start him in
something else. But Kavanagh can't stop on in the Militia, or pay a
tutor another six months, and it is neck or nothing with him. If I find
the will it will put him square; but what is he to do till then?"

Ruminating in this way, Harry returned to his tent and lay down again
for a couple of hours. Then he tubbed and dressed, and had a
comfortable breakfast all by himself; for he was too experienced a
traveller by this to let melancholy partings spoil his appetite.

He was in town by eleven, getting what was wanted to complete his modest
outfit, and at the Sheen cottage with his mother and sister in time for
th