"You refer to John Miles and William Armstrong, no doubt, madam," said the sergeant, in a somewhat encouraging tone. "Well, if Flynn says they were killed he has no ground whatever for saying so. They are only reported missing. Of course that is bad enough, but as long as a man is only missing there is plenty of room for hope. You see, they may have managed to hide, or been carried off as prisoners into the interior; and you may be sure the Arabs would not be such fools as to kill two men like Miles and Armstrong; they'd rather make slaves of 'em, in which case there will be a chance of their escaping, or, if we should become friendly again wi' these fellows, they'd be set free." "I'm so glad to hear you say so, and I felt sure that my desponding patient here was taking too gloomy a view of the matter," said Mrs Drew, with a significant glance at Marion, who seemed to breathe more freely and to lose some of her anxious expression after the sergeant's remarks. Perhaps at this point a little conversation that took place between Mrs Drew and her daughter that same evening may not be out of place. "Dear May," said the former, "did I not tell you that Flynn took too gloomy a view of the case of these young soldiers, in whom your dear father was so much interested? But, darling, is it not foolish in you to think so much about Miles?" "It may be foolish, mother, but I cannot help it," said Marion, blushing deeply; for she was very modest as well as simple. "May, dear, I wonder that you can make such an admission!" said the mother remonstratively. "Is it wrong to make such an admission to one's own mother, when it is true?" asked Marion, still blushing, but looking straight in her mother's eyes; for she was very straightforward as well as modest and simple! "Of course not, dear, but--but--in short, Miles is only a--a--soldier, you know, and--" "_Only_ a soldier!" interrupted Marion, with a flash from her soft brown eyes; for she was an enthusiast as well as straightforward, modest, and simple! "I suppose you mean that he is only a private, but what then? May not the poorest private in the army rise, if he be but noble-minded and worthy and capable, to the rank of a general, or higher--if there is anything higher? Possibly the Commander-in-Chief-ship may be open to him!" "True, my love, but in the meantime his social position is--" "Is quite as good as our own," interrupted Marion; for she was a desperate little radical as well as an enthusiast, straightforward, modest, and simple! "You know he let out something about his parents and position, and _of course_ he told the truth. Besides, I repeat that I cannot _help_ loving him, and surely we are not responsible for our affections. We cannot love and hate to order. I might fall in love with--with--well, it's no good talking; but, anyhow, I could not help it. I could be silent if you like, but I could not help myself."