Meanwhile, I will own that I was having a good time--that is, if admiration, expressed and unexpressed, could give it to me. Lady Helen was proud of me when she saw people flocking round me and when she observed that the nicest men asked me to dance, and the ladies whose houses she was most anxious to get invited to sent me also invitations. She made a fuss over me, and petted me according to her lights. So I was happy in a kind of fashion, although, to tell the truth, there were times over and again when I felt very like a prisoner--a prisoner in a gilt cage. One day something rather peculiar occurred. I did not think much of it at the time, although I was destined to give it several thoughts later on. Lady Helen received a letter amongst many others, which she opened shortly after breakfast. Father was in the room. He was leaning back in a big chair, and was reading _The Times_. I noticed that father always turned to the army news first in reading any paper; he was looking at the army news at that moment. He was intensely interested about everything to do with the army; and that I could scarcely wonder at, seeing that he himself was a Major in His Majesty's service. Lady Helen opened her letter, turned a little white, and flung it across the table to father. "There!" she said. "What are we to do now?" Father took up the letter and read it slowly. His face did not look exactly white, but a very peculiar mottled sort of colour spread slowly over his cheeks, and his eyes became fierce and wild. As a rule, he was quick and eager in his movements, but now he rose up deliberately, stamped his foot, and crossing the room, put the letter into a small fire which was burning in the grate. "Gordon, why have you done that?" said Lady Helen. "Because your brother will not enter this house," was his reply. "Ah, poor fellow!" she exclaimed. "And am I never to see him? I must see him--I _will_! Child, go out of the room." "No, child, you are to stay here," said my father. He swept his arm round my waist, and drew me down to sit close to him. I could feel that he was trembling all over. Lady Helen got up. "Heather, I wish you to leave the room." "Darling father, come to me presently to my own room," I whispered. "Do, please--what--mother wishes--now." I brought out the words with an effort. "You are a plucky girl, my darling," he said, kissing me. "Well, then, go--I will come to you by and by."