"There will be some officers," continued Helen; "and some of them are sure to be young. I've heard of girls going out to India being engaged to be married directly. I say, Miss Demure, what fun it would be if we were to be engaged directly." Grey Stuart looked at her old schoolfellow, half wondering at her flippancy, half in pain, but Helen went on, as if getting rid of so much vitality before having to resume her stiff, distant ways. "Did you notice how silly the Reverend Arthur was last night?" "No," replied Grey. "I thought he was very kind." "I thought he was going down upon his knees to kiss my feet!" cried Helen, with a mocking laugh; and her eyes sparkled and the colour came brightly in her cheeks. "Oh, Grey, you little fair, soft, weak kitten of a thing, why don't you wake up and try to show your power." "Nelly, you surprise me!" cried Grey. "How can you talk so giddily, so foolishly about such things." "Because I am no longer a child," cried the girl, proudly, and she drew herself up and walked backwards and forwards across the room. "Do you suppose I do not know how handsome I am, and how people admire me? Well, I'm not going to be always kept down. Look at the long, weary years of misery we have had at that wretched school." "Helen, you hurt me," said Grey. "Your words are cruel. No one could have been kinder to us than the Miss Twettenhams." "Kinder--nonsense! Treated us like infants; but it is over now, and I mean to be free. Who is that on the gravel path? Oh! it's poor Miss Rosebury. What a funny, sharp little body she is!" "Always so kind and genial to us," said Grey. "To you. She likes you as much as she detests me." "Oh, Nelly!" "She does; but not more than I detest her. She would not have me here at all if she could help it." "Oh! why do you say such things as that, Helen?" "Because they are true. She does not like me because her brother is so attentive; and she seemed quite annoyed yesterday when the doctor spent so long feeling my pulse and talking his physic jargon to me. And--oh, Grey, hush! Come gently--here, beside this curtain! Don't let them see you! What a discovery! Let's go and fetch the Reverend Arthur to see as well." "Oh, Helen, how wild you are! What do you mean?" "That!" whispered Helen, catching her schoolfellow tightly by the arm as she wrenched her into position, so that she could look out of the little flower-decked window. "What do I mean? Why that! See there!" VOLUME ONE, CHAPTER NINE. "I AM FORTY-FOUR." There was very little to see; and if Grey Stuart had accidentally seen what passed with unbiased eyes, she would merely have noted that, as Dr Bolter encountered Miss Rosebury at the gate, he shook hands warmly, paused for a moment, and then raised one of the lady's soft, plump little hands to his lips.