"News?--no." And the young aide-de-camp led me back to my place. "There's a man-of-war just coming in," said he; "she has been making signals to the station on the hills; what news can she bring?" The sun had long set, and the man-of-war dropped her anchor in silence; it was soon whispered that she had brought news from the south-eastern coast; and besides this, some excitement prevailed in consequence of her having had a desperate affray with pirates off the coast of Madagascar, and she had been looked for with much anxiety and interest, rumours of the action having reached us some days before? There was silence. It was so profound, that we could distinguish the plash of the oars. The flag-lieutenant descended the gangway to meet the commander of the sloop, and attending him to the deck, presented him to Admiral D. After the usual compliments had passed, Captain Leslie requested to be introduced at once to the Governor, for whom he had brought important despatches. Mrs Rashleigh came up at once to Clarence Fairfax; but looking at _me_, observed abruptly, "We must bid adieu to balls and fetes immediately. The Governor and his suite will have to start for the frontier without delay. You will be charmed, I am sure, to take the field again, Major Fairfax,"--here she addressed herself to him;--"for you must be tired of lounging at pianos and superintending embroidery. Don't faint, Miss Daveney; you are as white as death, I vow. He will come back again; aides-de-camp never get shot, especially in Kafirland." It is a fearful thing for a young heart to feel the germ of dislike springing in its depths; and, alas! I began to hate this woman. Clarence looked round for some one to whose care he could commit me. "I must go," he said, "to my uncle at once." I instinctively moved away with him. We left Mrs Rashleigh standing alone. Every one was crowding towards the poop to hear the news. Lady Amabel had fainted. The next few hours are vaguely sketched upon the tablets of my mind--day was dawning, as we descended the carpeted steps of the gangway to depart for the shore. I tottered into the barge, Clarence Fairfax supported me in his arms, and Lady Amabel was reclining on a seat, with Sir Adrian attempting to comfort her. Mrs Rashleigh was waiting for the Admiral's cutter to convey her to land. I could not reconcile her levity with the idea of her regard for Clarence. She was on the last step of the gangway, and leaning down, she looked under the canopy of the barge: "Pray, tell Lady Amabel," said she to me, with a mocking smile, "that she must not alarm herself; it will be quite a question of _words_ on the frontier, and we shall soon return. I have made up my mind to accompany Mr Rashleigh, who goes with the Governor. We shall have a charming party; good night."