"Rolph, too," cried Sir John enthusiastically, and as if he had wound himself up to make the best of everything. "By George, what a specimen of a man and a soldier he looked when he went to-night. Isn't he grand, Jem? Wouldn't you have liked to have three or four hundred such fellows in the Indian war?" "Yes; in the ranks," said the major. "Jem!" "All right. He's a grand specimen of humanity, and as he says hard as a brick." "Sorry to lose her, poor darling; but glad now when it's over, and all this mob of company gone. Have another cigar?" "No; past twelve, and I want to get a good night's rest before this comes off. Good-night, Jack! God bless you, lad! Happiness for our darling shall be my prayer to-night." Sir John started from his seat, and caught his brother's hands. His lips moved, but no words came for some moments, and a couple of tears trickled slowly down his cheeks. "Thank you, Jem," he said at last hoarsely, and the brothers separated without another word. The butler came yawning into the little office-study to put out the lamp, and half-an-hour later the house, full as it was of relatives and wedding guests, was silent as the grave. The clock over the stables chimed the quarters and struck the hours, while everyone slept soundly except Marjorie Emlin, who lay motionless, thinking of the coming day, and burnt up as if by a fever. Only a few hours now and her last hope gone, and as she lay there a curious jangling sound as of the wedding bells being rung derisively by demons seemed to drive her mad. A few hours before she had been hanging about Glynne, smiling and talking of the happy days to come, and of how dear and good and brave a fellow Rob was, and how they must both try now to wean him from his love of athletic sports, till Glynne grew weary and frowned a little, seeking her father's society as much as attention to the friends staying in the house would allow. Then came the good-night of all, and silence fell upon the house. Major Day slept soundly enough, but his dreams were troubled. Lucy Alleyne had a good deal to do with them, and he lay confused, and fighting hard to go after her, and bring her back, for she was getting into a bad habit of eloping every morning at daybreak, a habit which he felt ought to be stopped, but it was impossible he felt to bring it to an end. He was in the height of his trouble and perspiring freely when the object of Lucy's affections seized him roughly by the shoulder and shook him. "Jem, Jem, wake up, man; wake up!" The major started up in bed, and the light confused him, but he made out that his brother was there half dressed holding a bell glass flat candlestick over him. "What's the matter?" "Don't know. Slip on your dressing-gown. Someone ill, I'm afraid." "Tut, tut, tut!" ejaculated the major, hurrying on trousers and dressing-gown in prompt military fashion, while his brother explained.