We lose with our youth the blushes, the hesitations, the distressing outward marks of embarrassment; but, perhaps, with most of us, the shyness, as it recedes from the surface, only sinks deeper into the soul. As the door closed on Constance, Lord Watergate turned to Gertrude. "Miss Lorimer," he said, "I am afraid your powers of endurance have to be further tried." "What is it?" she said, while a listless incredulity that anything could matter to her now stole over her, dispersing the momentary cloud of self-consciousness. Lord Watergate leaned forward, regarding her earnestly. "There has been news," he said, slowly, "of poor young Jermyn." Gertrude started. "You mean," she said, "that they have found him--that there is no doubt." "On the contrary; there is every doubt." She looked at him bewildered. "Miss Lorimer, there is, I am afraid, much cruel suspense in store for you, and possibly to no purpose. I came here to-day to prepare you for what you will hear soon enough. I chanced to learn from official quarters what will be in every paper in England to-morrow. There is a rumour that Jermyn has been seen alive." "Lord Watergate!" Gertrude sprang to her feet, trembling in every limb. He rose also, and continued, his eyes resting on her face meanwhile:-- "Native messengers have arrived at head-quarters from the interior, giving an account of two Englishmen, who, they say, are living as prisoners in one of the hostile towns. The descriptions of these prisoners correspond to those of Steele and Jermyn." "Lucy!" came faintly from Gertrude's lips. "It is chiefly for your sister's sake that I have come here. The rumour will be all over the town to-morrow. Had you not better prepare her for this, at the same time impressing on her the extreme probability of its baselessness?" "I wish it could be kept from her altogether." "Perhaps even that might be managed until further confirmation arrives. I cannot conceal from you that at present I attach little value to it. It was in the nature of things that such a rumour should arise; neither of the poor fellows having actually been seen dead." "What steps will be taken?" asked Gertrude, after a pause. She had not the slightest belief that Frank would ever be among them again; she and Lucy had gone over for ever to the great majority of the unfortunate. "A rescue-party is to be organised at once. The war being practically at an end, it would probably resolve itself into a case of ransom, if there were any truth in the whole thing. I may be in possession of further news a little before the newspapers. Needless to say that I shall bring it here at once." He took up his hat and stood a moment looking down at her. "Lord Watergate, we do not even attempt to thank you for your kindness." "I have been able, unfortunately, to do so little for you. I wish to-day that I had come to you as the bringer of good tidings; I am destined, it seems, to be your bird of ill-omen."