"Very inconsiderate of them," muttered the young man.

"But what made you come home so late, Fanny?" said Rachel.

Alison suspected a slight look of wonder on the part of both the

officers at hearing their general's wife thus called to account; but

Fanny, taking it as a matter of course, answered, "We found that the-th

was at Avoncester. I had no idea of it, and they did not know I was

here; so I went to call upon Mrs. Hammond, and Colonel Keith went to

look for Alick, and we have brought him home to dine."

Fanny took it for granted that Rachel must know who Alick was, but she

was far from doing so, though she remembered that the --th had been her

uncle's regiment, and had been under Sir Stephen Temple's command in

India at the time of the mutiny. The thought of Fanny's lapsing into

military society was shocking to her. The boys were vociferating about

boats, ponies, and all that had been deferred till the Major's arrival,

and he was answering them kindly, but hushing the extra outcry less by

word than sign, and his own lowered voice and polished manner--a manner

that excessively chafed her as a sort of insult to the blunt, rapid ways

that she considered as sincere and unaffected, a silkiness that no doubt

had worked on the honest, simple general, as it was now working on

the weak young widow. Anything was better than leaving her to such

influence, and in pursuance of the intention that Rachel had already

announced at home, she invited herself to stay to dinner; and Fanny

eagerly thanked her, for making it a little less dull for Colonel Keith

and Alick. It was so good to come down and help. Certainly Fanny was

an innocent creature, provided she was not spoilt, and it was a duty to

guard her innocence.

Alison Williams escaped to her home, sure of nothing but that her sister

must not be allowed to share her uncertainties; and Lady Temple and her

guests sat down to dinner. Rachel meant to have sat at the bottom and

carved, as belonging to the house; but Fanny motioned the Colonel to

the place, observing, "It is so natural to see you there! One only

wants poor Captain Dent at the other end. Do you know whether he has his

leave?"

Wherewith commenced a discussion of military friends--who had been heard

of from Australia, who had been met in England, who was promoted, who

married, who retired, &c., and all the quarters of the-th since its

return from India two years ago; Fanny eagerly asking questions and

making remarks, quite at home and all animation, absolutely a different

being from the subdued, meek little creature that Rachel had hitherto

seen. Attempts were made to include Miss Curtis in the conversation by

addressing anecdotes to her, and asking if she knew the places named;

but she had been to none, and the three old friends quickly fell into

the swing of talk about what interested them. Once, however, she

came down on them with, "What conclusion have you formed upon female

emigration?"




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