I never did any good in the world yet, and so why not begin at once ?" General Rolleston laughed at this squirt of enthusiasm from his staid daughter, and went off to give the requisite orders.
But Wilson followed him immediately and stopped him in the passage.
"If you please, sir, I think you had better not.

I have something to tell you." She then communicated to him by degrees her suspicion that James Seaton was in love with his daughter.

He treated this with due ridicule at first; but she gave him one reason after another till she staggered him, and he went downstairs in a most mixed and puzzled frame of mind, inclined to laugh, inclined to be angry, inclined to be sorry.
The officer had just arrived, and was looking over some photographs to see if James Seaton was "one of his birds." Such, alas! was his expression.
At sight of this, Rolleston colored up; but extricated himself from the double difficulty with some skill.

"Hexham," said he, "this poor fellow has behaved like a man, and got himself wounded in my service.

You are to take him to the infirmary; but, mind, they must treat him like my own son, and nothing he asks for be denied him." Seaton walked with feeble steps, and leaning on two men, to the infirmary; and General Rolleston ordered a cup of coffee, lighted a cigar and sat cogitating over this strange business and asking himself how he could get rid of this young madman and yet befriend him.