ad been
passing around him, and thinking of them, too, with regret.

Isabel was meditating also, but her thoughts were turned on the future,
and on her husband's duty.

Hughes again took up the letter. "`They who met death,'" he continued
reading, "`were happy; but the prisoners suffered far worse. General
Havelock, to join whom we are marching up-country, has beaten the rebels
everywhere in detail, and as the news of his victories reached Cawnpore,
the European prisoners were led out in small batches, the men were
murdered, with every refinement of cruelty possible; the children were
killed, their brains dashed out before their parents' eyes, while wives
and daughters were given up to the savage lust of the sepoys, only to
meet death at a later period.'"

Isabel started from her seat, her eyes were bright as she walked to and
fro, and she pushed her hair back from her forehead with both hands as
she spoke.

"Have you done, Enrico?" she asked, her breath seeming to come fast and
thick.

"All, except smaller matters of personal detail," he replied.

"Read on to the last letter," she said; and he obeyed.

"`You are promoted to a Majority, as you will see by the enclosed
Gazette. Colonel Desmond obtained leave, and started for England a few
days before the explosion of the mutiny. Lieutenant-Colonel Sedley is
sick, and will be sent down to Calcutta, his old wound having broken
out. Could you not--'"

And Hughes paused, looking sadly at Isabel.

The latter stopped in her walk, bent down, and took up the letter which
had fallen to the ground.

"Do you think so meanly of me? Do you believe me to be so unworthy of
you?" she said, turning her eyes full upon him, and placing the document
once more in his hands. "Read on, Enrico."

"`Could you not join at once on receipt of this? Don't bring the Kaffir
Bride, we have impediments enough already. You will have command of the
old regiment, and we will gloriously revenge on these foul murderers the
butchery of our women and children. Don't hesitate an hour when this
reaches you.'

"`Ever sincerely yours,'

"`Frederick Curtis.'"

"Always the same," exclaimed Hughes. "He would have the command and
sure promotion, but he thinks of me rather than himself."

"And you will not hesitate a minute--no, not a second," cried Isabel,
the hot blood rushing to her face.

"Isabel!" said the soldier, in a voice which, despite all he could do,
trembled.

"You will a