"There, there, there, my dear child," said Mrs Bolter, who felt scandalised at this weakness on the part of her favourite; "don't cry-- pray don't cry. You're very glad to see Captain Hilton back of course, but you must save a few tears for poor Mr Chumbley as well. When is he coming to see us, Captain Hilton?" "Not on this side of our expedition," said the young officer, quietly. "We start as soon as possible, and have hopes of bringing back Miss Perowne and your brother." "Then you do think he was taken as well, Captain Hilton?" cried Mrs Bolter, eagerly. "I feel sure he was, now," replied Hilton. "He was no doubt in attendance upon Miss Perowne, and they were taken together." "Then if he was," said little Mrs Bolter, brightening, "I am very glad, for Helen Perowne's sake for some things," she added, giving her head a sharp shake. This short colloquy gave Grey Stuart an opportunity of recovering herself; and she blessed the brisk, talkative little woman for drawing attention from her, so that when next she spoke, she was able to command herself thoroughly, and continue the conversation in her ordinary calm, self-possessed way. "I began to despair at one time of getting back to the station," Hilton said, lightly; "and I was very tired of being a prisoner, I assure you." He looked intently at Grey as he spoke, and the pleasant warmth of her manner as she replied touched and pleased him but he was fain to confess that it was only the lively interest that any girl in her position would take in one who had been lost in the same way as he, and was now found. "I am very glad to see you back, Mr Hilton," she said. "We were in great trouble about you. But when shall we see Mr Chumbley?" "Soon, I hope," he replied, quietly, and there was a curious sinking feeling at his heart as she spoke. "She would have shown just as much emotion at seeing him for the first time," he thought. "What a sweet, innocent, gracious little woman it is, and how much happier I might have been, if I had made her the object of my pursuit." "Tell me about Mr Chumbley," said Grey, taking up her work; "did he suffer much when you were prisoners?" "Suffer? No!" said Hilton, smiling. "If he did, he never showed it. He's a splendid fellow, and takes things so coolly." "Oh, yes, he is, indeed!" cried Grey. "I do like Mr Chumbley." Hilton's heart sank a little lower, and there was almost a ring of sadness in his voice as he went on: "He kept my spirits up wonderfully by his _nonchalant_, easy way. He was a capital companion and never once showed that he was low-spirited or suffered in the least." "He is very strong and brave, is he not?" said Grey. "Why, the little body loves him," thought Hilton; "and I had hoped--Bah! let me be a man, and not a manger-loving cur. What right have I to think she could have cared for me?" "Strong and brave!" he said, aloud. "Why, Chumbley professes to be a coward--"