"Then is the object of our wedding attained," said Charles, with a smile and a bow. "Almost quite happy," continued the Little Lady. "If only the boys were here, now----" "We ought to hear something soon," said Sir George. "I was hoping the dispatches might bring some news of them. You don't suppose the Russians would carry them across with them?" "I wouldn't like to say what the Russians might or might not do," said Eager thoughtfully. "They're a queer lot, from all accounts. I didn't tell you we called on Lord Deseret as we came through London. He was very friendly and as nice as could be. Among other things he told us that, as the result of all his inquiries, he learned from St. Petersburg that the boys were being kept in Sebastopol of set purpose." "That's odd! Why?" asked Sir George. "For the still odder reason, as it was reported to him, that they were safer inside than outside." "And who was it was playing Providence to them like that?" "He could only surmise, but I am not at all sure that he told us all he knew. He is an old diplomat, you know." "And to whom did his surmises point?" "I gathered it was towards Mme Beteta, the Spanish dancer. You remember she made something of a furore in London when she was over here." "But what on earth has she got to do with our boys?" asked Gracie, kindling. "She seemed to take a fancy to them. You remember how Jim used to write about her." "But how could a woman such as that exercise any influence in such a matter?" asked Sir George. "Ah!----" Then there came a knock on the front door, and they heard Rosa trip along to answer it. And the next moment Rosa's white face appeared at the dining-room door, and Rosa's pale lips gasped: "Oh mum, miss, 't's 'is ghost--Master Jim!" And Jim pushed past her into the room, and they all sprang up to meet him. Gracie was nearest, and she just flung her arms round his neck crying, "Oh Jim! _Jim!_"; And he put his left arm round her and kissed her, and put her back into her chair. It was many minutes before they could settle to rational talk, for Mrs. Jex must come hurrying in, and Jim kissed her too, and seemed inclined to go round the whole company. But then they came to soberness with the inevitable question: "And Jack?" And an expressive gesture of Jim's left hand prepared them for the worst. "The shell that took this," he said, glancing down at his empty sleeve, "took Jack too. I did my best"--and he looked anxiously at Gracie and Eager--"I tried to fling it away, but it burst, and--and-- that was the end. It was days before I knew." By degrees he told them all the story; and saddened as they were by the loss of one, they could not but soberly rejoice that one at all events had been spared to them.