'I had already heard something of this before, and it had been a source of laughter, but for a time only, in our mess-bungalow in Cabul; and that evening, when Vassal Holland and I were discussing my adventure, through the pleasant medium of brandy-pawnee and Chinsurah cheroots, he laughed loudly at the threat, like a heedless and handsome young fellow as he was, and stigmatised Zemaun Khan as "a melodramatic old donkey! After traversing the Bolan Pass under Willoughby Cotton, storming Ghuzni, and then taking Cabul, we won't be so jolly green as to take fright at the Afghans;" adding, "and now to talk of something else. I may mention that your absence during the storm last night, and from parade this morning, caused much speculation in the lines, and, if it is any gratification to you, not a little in the villa of the Berriedales." 'And he lay back in his long arm-chair, and watched alternately the rings of smoke from his cheroot as they ascended to the straw roof of the bungalow, and the expression of my face. '"Was Mabel indeed interested?" I asked, with heightened colour. '"More than interested--agitated! but I don't wish to fan the flame, for I fear it will be no joke to be the husband of such a girl as Mabel Berriedale." '"Joke--I should think not, Holland." '"What then?" '"A great joy! But to what do your remarks point?" '"To begin with--her love of dress." '"Pshaw! every pretty girl has that--and she is lovely!" '"In her opinion, her father the Colonel--or any father--is only the medium for supplying luxuries and pleasures, and to act as chaperon, if nothing more attractive can be had. A husband would soon come to be viewed in the same light." '"Pleasures, luxuries!" I exclaimed; "there are deuced few of either to be had at Cabul. But you, the fortunate, happy, and accepted of her cousin Bella should not talk thus. You have surely been refused by her!" '"Refused?" exclaimed Holland, laughing. '"Yes," said I angrily. '"I never asked her, even before I saw Bella; yet many an afternoon I have enjoyed her society very much." '"I should think so; she would make a pleasant companion for a longer period than any Afghan afternoon. You mistake the girl entirely, in deeming her, as I know you do, vain, trivial, heartless, it may be." Holland only continued to smoke in silence. '"To-night at Lady Sale's, I shall put it to the issue, if I can," said I. '"Both will be there." '"Allow us then to don our war-paint."