"It was when you were away--the week before last--I heard it. I think I mentioned it when I wrote," said Eugenia, timidly, reluctant to own to herself that Beauchamp could so soon have forgotten a matter of such interest to her. "Ah, well, perhaps you did. It is nothing serious, I suppose?" And without waiting for an answer, Captain Chancellor proceeded to read his own letters. One among them was from an old brother officer, a friend of several years' standing, recently returned from abroad, whom he had invited to come down for a few days' shooting, intending to arrange a suitable party to meet him. "Eugenia," he said, looking up quickly, after reading this letter, "Colonel Masterton cannot come till the 29th. That leaves us all the week after next free. Of course I shall not ask the others till he comes. How would you like to have your people for a few days then--the Thurstons and your father. The change might do him good, and you seem dying to see your sister." Eugenia's face glowed all over with delight. The old bright look came into her eyes, the old eager ring thrilled again through her voice. "Oh, Beauchamp, thank you, thank you so much for thinking of it. It would be delightful. I cannot tell you how I should enjoy it." "Why have you never spoken of it before if you wish it so much?" asked Beauchamp, not unkindly, but with the slight irritation of incipient self-reproach. "I can't _guess_ your wishes always, you know." "I did mention it once," she said, timidly again. "Don't you remember, the first time you had to go away I asked if Sydney might come to me." "But that was an absurd proposal. It would have looked so ridiculous to bring Mrs Thurston all the way here because I was to be away, and naturally when your friends do come I should wish to be at home to receive them; so you had better write about their coming, to-day." He rose as he spoke, and gathering his letters and newspapers together, left the room, feeling very well pleased with himself, and not sorry to see the bright flush of happiness his proposal had brought to his wife's pale cheeks.