The General drew his eyebrows together and stared scrutinisingly at the girlish figure seated on the high-backed oak chair. Flowing locks, short petticoats, heavy boots, woollen gloves--just a bit of a schoolgirl in the hobbledehoy stage in which feminine instincts seem dormant--and the ambitions are more those of a boy than a girl. But Jill was going to be a woman some day, and a fascinating woman into the bargain, with all the power for good or evil over the lives of others which such fascination brings. The General shook his head in warning fashion. "Don't say that, my girl. Never say or think a thing like that again! You are only a child, but you'll grow up. It's wonderful how quickly you young things spring up. You'll be a woman before you can say, `Jack Robinson!' and there's no worse sin a woman can commit than to look upon marriage as a mere profession, an easy way of securing board and lodging. It's not only ruining her own life--it's ten times worse--for it ruins another into the bargain. When I was a young fellow I asked a girl to marry me--the only girl I ever did ask--and she wouldn't look at me. She was a poor girl, and I had lots of money, but she was honest with me all the same, and I've been grateful to her all my life. I've been a lonely old fellow, but it would have been a thousand times worse to have had a wife who did not love me! You put it out of your head, little girl, that you are going to sell yourself for all the horses and dogs in creation." "Um--" said Jill vaguely. She had scented a love--story, and with the inherent curiosity of her sex was dying to hear more about it. "And what became of the girl? Did she marry--someone else?" "Which girl? Oh--I suppose so! I went out to India and lost sight of her. I did not want to see her again. I hope she settled down with a good fellow who could take care of her. Hullo, what's this?" The man-servant had entered the room with a tray, which he proceeded to place on a table by Jill's side. It contained the usual paraphernalia for afternoon tea, but it appeared that the General did not as a rule indulge in this meal, hence his astonishment at its appearance. "Thought the young lady would like some, eh? Quite right--quite right. You keep me up to my duties as usual! Johnson has been with me for the last thirty years!" he explained to his guests. "We fought together in the East, and I should get on badly without him nowadays. Now, my dear, help yourself. You are the lady of the party, so you must preside." Jill pulled off her gloves, gave a surreptitious lick to an ink-stain on the second finger of her right hand, rubbed it dry on the side of her dress, and proceeded to do the honours with equal self-possession and enjoyment. If Betty could see her now! A real General with a man- servant to wait upon him! It was a hundred times more important and exciting than Mrs Vanburgh and her governesses!