'I am sorry you think so.' 'Besides, she has a lover, I believe, whose likeness she wears in a locket; and though she may be content to throw him over for rank and wealth with you, surely you would not care to receive a second-hand affection.' 'How your tongue goes on, grandmother!' said Shafto, greatly irritated; 'you are like Finella's pad Fern when it gets the bit between its teeth.' 'Thank you! But this lover or cousin, or whatever he is, of whom Miss Carlyon actually once spoke to me--who is he, and where is he?' 'How the deuce should I know!' exclaimed Shafto, growing pale; 'gone to the dogs, I suppose, as I always thought he would.' 'It was of him that madwoman spoke?' 'Yes, Madelon Galbraith. He was named Florian after his _aunt_.' 'Miss MacIan.' That was enough for Lady Fettercairn, who, dropping that subject, returned with true feminine persistence to the other. 'I don't like this sort of thing, I repeat, Shafto.' 'What sort of thing?' 'This secret flirting with my companion, Miss Carlyon.' 'I don't flirt with her; and, by Jove, he'd be a pretty clever fellow who could do so.' 'Why?' 'She is so devilish stand-off, grandmother.' 'I am truly glad to hear it.' 'But can't I talk with her? We are old acquaintances, and have naturally much to say to each other.' 'Too much, I fear. You may talk, as you say, but not hover about her.' 'Anything more?' asked Shafto rudely. 'Yes, I wish you to settle down----' 'Oh! and marry Finella?' 'Yes, that you know well, dear Shafto,' said the lady coaxingly. 'Oh, by Jove! that is easier said than done. You don't know all the outs and ins of Finella; and one can't walk the course, so far as I can see.' Shafto withdrew, but not before he saw the lace-edged handkerchief come into use, to hide the tears she did not shed at the brusque manner of her 'grandson,' who had failed to convince her, for she said to herself bitterly: 'There is a curse upon Craigengowan! Our youngest son threw himself and his life away upon a beggarly governess; and now our only grandson seems likely to play the same game with my upstart companion! I _do_ like the girl, but, however, I must get rid of her.' CHAPTER XVII. WITH THE SECOND DIVISION. Meanwhile the events of the war were treading thick on each other in Zululand. A fresh disaster had ensued at the Intombe river, where a detachment of the 80th Regiment was cut to pieces, and again old soldiers spoke with sorrow and disgust of the blunders and incapacity of those at head-quarters, who by their newfangled systems had reduced our once grand army to chaos.