"Yes," was Elton's reply. He wondered if the next question would deal with her steadiness. "I suppose you are a friend of the family?" was Miss Brent's next question. Elton bowed. "Good afternoon, sir." The speaker was a soldier in hospital blue, a rugged little man known among his fellows as "Uncle." "Hullo! Uncle, how are you?" said Elton, shaking hands. Miss Brent noticed a warmth in Elton's tone that was in marked contrast to the even tone of courtesy with which he had answered her questions. "Oh, just 'oppin' on to 'eaven, sir," replied Uncle. "Sort of sittin' up an' takin' notice." Elton introduced Uncle to Miss Brent, an act that seemed to her quite unnecessary. "And where were you wounded?" asked Miss Brent conventionally. "Clean through the buttocks, mum," replied Uncle simply. Miss Brent flushed and cast a swift glance at Elton, whose face showed no sign. She turned to Uncle and regarded him severely; but he was blissfully unaware of having offended. "Can't sit down now, mum, without it 'urtin'," added Uncle, interpreting Miss Brent's steady gaze as betokening interest. "Oh, Goddy! I've been trying to fight my way across to you for hours." The pretty brunette to whom Elton had bowed joined the group. "I've been giving you the glad eye all the afternoon and you merely bow. Well, Uncle, how's the wound?" Miss Brent gasped. She was unaware that Uncle's wound was the standing joke among all Lady Meyfield's guests. "Oh! I'm gettin' on, thank you," said Uncle cheerfully. "Mustn't complain." "Isn't he a darling?" The girl addressed herself to Miss Brent, who merely stared. "Do you refer to Uncle or to me?" enquired Elton. "Why both, of course; but--" she paused and, screwing up her piquante little face in thought she added, "but I think Uncle's the darlinger though, don't you?" Again she challenged Miss Brent. "Good job my missis can't 'ear 'er," was Uncle's comment to Elton. "There, you see!" cried the girl gaily, "Uncle talks about his wife when I make love to him, and as for Goddy," she turned and regarded Elton with a quizzical expression, "he treats my passion with a look that clearly says prunes and prisms." Miss Brent's head was beginning to whirl. Somewhere at the back of her mind was the unuttered thought, What would Little Milstead think of such conversation? She was brought back to Lady Meyfield's drawing-room by hearing the brunette once more addressing her. "They're the two most interesting men in the room. I call them the Dove and the Serpent. Uncle has the guilelessness of the dove, whilst Godfrey has all the wisdom of the serpent. The three of us together would make a most perfect Garden of Eden. Wouldn't we, Goddy?" "You are getting a little confused, Peggy," said Elton. "This is not a fancy dress----" "Stop him, someone!" cried the brunette, "he's going to say something naughty." Elton smiled, Miss Brent continued to stare, whilst Uncle with a grin of admiration cried: