'Introduction? None was needed in my time; the epaulettes were introduction enough everywhere. The service is certainly _not_ what it was in my day, the special school of honour and politeness; but I'll do the right thing, for all that. Let me see, which is senior--Falconer or Fotheringhame. Tunley, hand me the "Army List." Thanks. It _is_ Falconer. I have known what it is to be on detachment in such a dull hole as Dumbarton, killing time till the spring drills come on, so I'll invite the senior.' 'And how about the poor junior?' asked Miss Erroll, colouring slightly again. 'Well, even to gratify you, Annabelle, I cannot bring him,' said the general, laughing. 'I remember once, when we were in cantonments at Barrackpore----' Hew smiled as the general began thus; but they were spared the probably prosy reminiscence, for just then Sir Piers' faded features clouded suddenly, as he put down the 'Army List' and said, in a changed voice: 'Had my boy Piers lived, he might now have been at the head of the regiment--five-and-twenty years ago--five-and-twenty years! My God, how long--how time has rolled away!' His eyes, as he thought this, rather than spoke it all aloud, were cast for a moment furtively--as if he was ashamed of exhibiting any sudden emotion--on the full-length portrait of a handsome young subaltern, in the uniform of the Cameronians, scarlet faced with yellow, massive gold epaulettes, and the silver sphinx on his belt-plate. It represented a spirited-looking young fellow with a proud and joyous expression of face, and a well-knit, well-set-up figure. The shifty, parti-coloured eyes of Hew Montgomerie travelled for a moment in the same direction, and then he addressed himself to the grouse-pie, thinking the while that 'things were deucedly well ordered as they were, so far as he was concerned.' And then the meal proceeded somewhat silently, Mrs. Garth officiating over the cups, and Mr. Tunley, a paragon of old rubicund butlers, at the side-board, where the cold beef and grouse-pie were placed, among Indian jars and old silver race tankards. Mary Montgomerie, the general's grand-niece and ward, and her chief friend and gossip, Annabelle Enroll, were both attractive and very handsome girls, each in her twentieth year, but different in their styles and complexions.