"Much obliged, I'm sure," replied Jim, laughing at his brother's boisterous spirits. "Bless you, Major Russell, you're very welcome." Jim winked with much deliberation, whereupon Ted thumped him between the ribs and continued his chaff. "Cheer up, old man; it'll soon be over, and p'raps you'll recover. You're not the first fellow to be married, though I suppose you imagine that there's never been such an important affair upon this poor old globe before. Cheer up! I've heard of fellows who've survived it." "Thanks! I'm fairly cheerful considering, but being with the Lucknow Army don't seem to have improved your at-no-time very admirable manners." "Never had any. Everybody used to tell me how much I took after my eldest brother. Seriously, Jim, I wish you'd been with us at Lucknow. I've had a great time." And Jim listened, leaning back with legs crossed and hands clasped behind his head, while Ted recounted some of the most striking episodes of the campaign and of his own adventures. "You're a decent sort of kid, Ted," the elder brother allowed. "I wish the Guides had been there. Now I believe you're dying to have a chat with Ethel, and I know she's as anxious as can be to see you again. So go and find her, young 'un. I'm horribly busy and can't go with you. I would if I could, you may be sure." "I will go and condole with her. _She_ needs some genuine sympathy and consolation, and she shall have it. How far is it? Worth taking the horse out again?" "No, not five minutes away." Before Ted had proceeded a couple of hundred yards, he beheld the object of his search riding towards home, her thoughts uplifted far above the humble wayfarer whom she was about to pass without recognition. "Evening, Miss Woodburn!" said Ted. Ethel gave a start and reined in her horse. "Why, Ted, I didn't know you'd arrived." "Just come. Affectionate brother intimated that, as he had no room for thinking of anyone but you, I disturbed him." "So you were coming to see me? You are looking well, Ted. I half expected to see a decrepit invalid with crutches and bandages." "I'm all right now. Should have come though to see you married if I'd had to be brought on a doolie." He assisted the girl to dismount, and, giving the horse in charge of the sais, they entered the house. "I am glad you look so well," repeated Miss Woodburn. "Paterson kept us posted up as to your state so long as he remained at Lucknow. We had an anxious time for a week or two." "You heard about Tynan, I suppose? He proved a brick in the end, did he not?" "Yes, I was glad when I read Alec's account of how he died. That is--you know what I mean?" Ted nodded. "Had you not seen him since that night at Lahore?" Ethel continued. "Never once until that moment. I've not been able to find out anything about him either. He must have enrolled in the Volunteers, under an assumed name, of course."