They stood talking languidly about this and that local topic, till De Stancy turned aside for a short time to speak to a dapper little lady who had beckoned to him.

In a few minutes he came back to Somerset.
'Mrs.Camperton, the wife of Major Camperton of my battery, would very much like me to introduce you to her.

She is an old friend of your father's, and has wanted to know you for a long time.' De Stancy and Somerset crossed over to the lady, and in a few minutes, thanks to her flow of spirits, she and Somerset were chatting with remarkable freedom.
'It is a happy coincidence,' continued Mrs.Camperton, 'that I should have met you here, immediately after receiving a letter from your father: indeed it reached me only this morning.

He has been so kind! We are getting up some theatricals, as you know, I suppose, to help the funds of the County Hospital, which is in debt.' 'I have just seen the announcement--nothing more.' 'Yes, such an estimable purpose; and as we wished to do it thoroughly well, I asked Mr.Somerset to design us the costumes, and he has now sent me the sketches.

It is quite a secret at present, but we are going to play Shakespeare's romantic drama, 'Love's Labour's Lost,' and we hope to get Miss Power to take the leading part.