'Why should you have been listening at this time of night, and yet not expecting me ?' he asked.
'Why, indeed! There is a strange story attached to that, which I must tell you at once.

But why did you come a night sooner than you said you would come?
I am rather sorry--I really am!' (shaking her head playfully) 'for as a surprise to you I had ordered a bonfire to be built, which was to be lighted on your arrival to-morrow; and now it is wasted.
You can see the outline of it just out there.' The Duke looked across to a spot of rising glade, and saw the faggots in a heap.

He then bent his eyes with a bland and puzzled air on the ground, 'What is this strange story you have to tell me that kept you awake ?' he murmured.
'It is this--and it is really rather serious.

My cousin Fred Ogbourne--Captain Ogbourne as he is now--was in his boyhood a great admirer of mine, as I think I have told you, though I was six years his senior.

In strict truth, he was absurdly fond of me.' 'You have never told me of that before.' 'Then it was your sister I told--yes, it was.