She, on the other hand, was naturally anxious to learn the movements of Berkeley, whom, notwithstanding his cold desertion, she loved blindly and desperately. Thus we could be useful to each other. My heart recoiled at times from such a mode of working; but I could have no other recourse till my cousin Cora came. As I rode up to the door of the hotel, my heart leaped on seeing Willie Pitblado awaiting me there. "A letter at last!" I exclaimed, as he came forward. "From the colonel, sir," said he, touching his cockaded hat. "The colonel?" I repeated in disappointment and surprise, as I tore open the note, the contents of which ran briefly thus:— "MY DEAR NORCLIFF,—As the barracks here are becoming uncomfortably crowded, by the Indian depôts and so forth, your troop is detached to Canterbury for a week or two, to share the quarters of the hussars. You will remain there, probably, till the route comes. You need not return to head-quarters, unless you choose; but may report yourself to the lieutenant-colonel commanding the consolidated cavalry depôt at Canterbury. This is a stranger-day at mess. We are to have an unusual number of guests, and the band. Wish you were with us. Believe me, &c., &c., LIONEL BEVERLEY, Lieut.-Col. "P.S.—You will drill the troop once daily to the sword and lance exercise on horseback." "How lucky!" thought I. "I shall have Canterbury for the basis of my operations, and the Reculvers for an advanced post; quartered here, and Chillingham close by!—When does the troop march in, Willie." "To-morrow forenoon, sir, under Mr. Jocelyn." "Good. You will take my card to the barrack-master, and my horses to the stables, and receive over my quarters. I shall remain at the hotel until the troop comes in." I did not ride to the Reculvers on that afternoon, though I scoured every road in the vicinity of the city, by Sturry, Bramling, and Horton. Next morning I went for a mile or two in the direction of Ospringe, and soon saw the troop advancing leisurely, with their horses at a walk, along the dusty Kentish highway, their keen lance-heads glittering with all their bright appointments in the sunshine, their scarlet and white banneroles, and the long plumes in the men’s square-topped caps dancing in the wind, as I trotted up and joined them, though in mufti. My lieutenant, Frank Jocelyn, and the cornet, Sir Harry Scarlett, were both pleasant and gentlemanly young men, and would have been a most welcome addition to my residence in Canterbury, but for the hopes, the fears, and plans which occupied me. They asked me how I liked the cathedral city, and there was a smile on their faces, which, when taken in conjunction with my secret thoughts, galled and fretted me. Yet I could not notice it.