After this he rode over occasionally from the camp--it was rather an idle time with him then, before the spring drills of the next year commenced--and he seemed rapidly to establish himself at the Grange as a friend, and on a better basis than the younger man, poor Jerry Wilmot, had done, for the latter name was off even the lady's visitors' list now. In life and history passages seem to repeat themselves; thus, just as Dalton arrived one evening, he heard, through the open window, the voice of Laura Trelawney singing the old song before referred to, and with the strain there came many a memory he had been striving to forget. 'Strange!' he muttered; 'that song again!' Sweet, clear, and sad, as if it was meant for him, and him alone, her voice seemed to come floating to him in liquid melody, in pain and pathos. Then he heard some merry voice, with which he was familiar; and as he was ushered into the pretty drawing-room, wherein Jerry met his doom, for a man who was evidently fast conceiving a _tendresse_ for the brilliant Mrs. Trelawney, it was curious that he should feel a kind of relief--a kind of protection for himself, or from committing himself too far--in the casual presence of Alison Cheyne and Bevil Goring. The former smiled brightly, and gave Bevil a glance of intelligence as Dalton was ushered in. It was evidently, both thought, becoming a case, and Alison was already beginning to see herself a prospective bridesmaid and Bevil groomsman. 'How curious you should all three visit me just at the same time,' said Mrs. Trelawney. 'I was visiting my poor,' said Alison. 'And came to comfort the widow and orphan on the way.' 'Have you many recipients of your bounty, Miss Cheyne?' said Dalton, for lack of something else to say. 'I have little in my power; but they are all so grateful and so good.' 'Ah!' said Mrs. Trelawney, 'I don't take so charitable a view of human nature as you do, child; if the poor are generally virtuous, it is because they have not the guineas to be wicked with.' 'One of your wild speeches, Mrs. Trelawney, I hope,' said Goring; 'my guineas are few--thus I have a fellow-feeling.' And, leaving the last visitor and their hostess to discuss the point _tête-à-tête_, the lovers strolled into the now somewhat desolate garden, where the fallen leaves lay thick; but their own emotions seemed to brighten it with all the flowers that ever grew in Eden, and with the walks they were pretty familiar with now. 'And so you were dining _en famille_ at old Cadbury's place?' said Goring, as he drew her hand over his arm and retained it there. 'Was it a slow affair, darling?' 'Utterly slow,' said Alison, with a sigh, while looking into his face with smiling eyes. 'Tell me all about it?'