"Ah, yes; he might play tricks if he chose: but there's the wonder, that he don't. I'd answer for him with my own sister. I do every day of my life--for I believe he knows how many pins she puts into her dress--and yet there he is. As I said once in the mess-room--there was a youngster there who took on himself to be witty, and talked about the still sow supping the milk--the snob! You recollect him, Mellot? the attorney's son from Brompton, who sold out;--we shaved his mustachios, put a bear in his bed, and sent him home to his ma--And he said that Major Campbell might be very pious, and all that: but he'd warrant--they were the fellow's own words,--that he took his lark on the sly, like other men-- the snob! so I told him, I was no better than the rest, and no more I am; but if any man dared to say that the Major was not as honest as his own sister, I was his man at fifteen paces. And so I am, Claude!" All which did not increase Elsley's love to the Major, conscious as he was that Lucia's confidence was a thing which he had not wholly; and which it would be very dangerous to him for any other man to have at all. Into the drawing-room they went. Frank Headley had been asked up to tea; and he stood at the piano, listening to Valencia's singing. As they came in, the maid came in also. "Mr. Thurnall wished to speak to Major Campbell." Campbell went out, and returned in two minutes somewhat hurriedly. "Mr. Thurnall wishes Lord Scoutbush to be informed at once, and I think it is better that you should all know it--that--it is a painful surprise:--but there is a man ill in the street, whose symptoms he does not like, he says." "Cholera?" said Elsley. "Call him in," said Scoutbush. "He had rather not come in, he says." "What! is it infectious?" "Certainly not, if it be cholera, but--" "He don't wish to frighten people, quite right:" (with a half glance at Elsley;) "but is it cholera, honestly?" "I fear so." "Oh, my children!" said poor Mrs. Vavasour. "Will five pounds help the poor fellow?" said Scoutbush. "How far off is it?" asked Elsley. "Unpleasantly near. I was going to advise you to move at once." "You hear what they are saying?" asked Valencia of Frank. "Yes, I hear it," said Frank, in a quiet meaning tone. Valencia thought that he was half pleased with the news. Then she thought him afraid; for he did not stir. "You will go instantly, of course?" "Of course I shall. Good-bye! Do not be afraid. It is not infectious." "Afraid? And a soldier's sister?" said Valencia, with a toss of her beautiful head, by way of giving force to her somewhat weak logic. Frank left the room instantly, and met Thurnall in the passage. "Well, Headley, it's here before we sent for it, as bad luck usually is." "I know. Let me go! Where is it? Whose house?" asked Frank in an excited tone. "Humph!" said Thurnall, looking intently at him, "that is just what I shall not tell you." "Not tell me?"