"It's a long story," he began slowly, "I don't talk of it more than I can help, but I'll tell you, if you care to hear it. I come of a race of soldiers: it never entered my head that I could be anything else. My father was in the Lancers; he died before I left Sandhurst, but my mother managed to allow me fifteen hundred a year, and I joined my father's regiment. I was lucky as things go; went through two engagements before I was thirty; gained distinction at Omdurman. At home I had a nailing good time: Adjutant of the regiment. We had the jolliest mess! I don't think a man ever lived who enjoyed his life more. There was lots of play, but I loved the work too, and studied hard, at every branch of the profession. I had the credit of being one of the best all-round men in the service." He laughed; a hard, sore- hearted laugh. "I can say that now without reproach, for it belongs to another life. ... Then--my mother died! She had been living beyond her income, and there were all the legal expenses to face; selling up at a loss; giving the girls their share. She had made a special push to keep me in the old regiment; but in the end it came down to this, that in all, there was barely five hundred a year for me. It was a big blow, but there was nothing for it but to send in my resignation." "Why?" "One can't be an officer in a crack cavalry regiment with only five hundred a year beyond his pay, Miss Briskett. It can't be done. There wasn't one of my subs, who had less than eight hundred." "Don't you get any pay at all in your army then?" "Certainly; about enough to pay the mess bills, and perhaps the changes of kit. The uniform costs several hundreds to start with, and those fools at the War Office are everlastingly ordering senseless alterations." "Yes; but--I don't understand! If the pay is enough for your keep, why do you need such a heap more to get along? Where does all the expense come in?" Guest knitted his brows in momentary embarrassment. "Well, of course, there are certain things that a man must do to live up to his position. He must entertain; he must hunt; he must play polo. It comes cheaper to him than ordinary men, for he has the use of the regimental stables; but still, things run up. It's astonishing how they _do_ run up! There are a hundred things that are _expected_ of him, and there's no getting away from them." "Isn't he expected first thing of all to serve his country?" "That is, of course!" Guest raised his head proudly. "I have already explained that I _had_ served her." "Wouldn't they let you go on then, because you couldn't cut a dash?"