"But bother it! you've no business to desert the ladies, sir," cried the Colonel, as they turned into an unfrequented path. "It's all very well for an old soldier like me, but you've your time to serve. They'll be raising the hue and cry for you." "Let them. Fact is, Colonel, I've been so long outside the civilised world that I was dying for a smoke up yonder just now. So the fragrant weed beat lovely woman clean out of the field." The old man laughed again. He had taken a great liking to this, as he thought, unfairly treated son of his old friend. "Look here, Roland, my boy," he said, suddenly becoming grave. "I can't tell you how glad I am to see you here, safe home again. You mustn't mind my speaking plainly to you--for, although we've never met before, your father and I fought in the same lines and quarrelled like fury together, over and over again, before any of you were born or thought of--so I don't mind what I say to you. Your father's a queer fellow, but I think he's fond of you in his own way underneath it all, so don't run more counter to each other than you can help." There was such genuine warmth in the other's address that Roland was touched. He was about to reply, when voices were heard approaching, and almost immediately a footman hove in sight. "Colonel Neville's horse is at the door, sir," he said, and from the expression of his face no doubt he added to himself, "and a precious long time he's been waiting." "Ha! I'm afraid they've been looking for me far and wide. You must come over and see us, Roland, as soon as you can. My wife was hoping to have been here to-day, but she didn't feel up to the attempt. So mind you come, for we shall all be very glad to see you." They had reached the party by now, and many a glance of reawakened interest was levelled at the younger of the truants, but in the slight stir attendant on the Colonel's departure he escaped unscolded. "Well, Roland," said his father, entering the smoking-room late that evening. "How did the affair go off to-day? Pretty well?" "Oh, I think so. It struck me that all the world looked contented with itself. And it made its fair share of row, a sure sign that it wasn't bored, anyhow. Do you mind my lighting up, sir?" "No, no. Light away. Why yes, I think the people seemed to enjoy themselves. By the bye, you were talking a good deal to Clara Neville. What do you think of her?" And the General stood with his back against the mantelpiece as though about to wax quite chatty. "She seems a sensible sort of girl, on the whole, and can talk rationally. But she always gives you the idea that she is thinking more of her dress than of what you are saying to her."