After Betty's arrival, which she hailed with delight, the girls had become fast friends.
Lydia slipped her arm affectionately around Betty's neck and said, "Why did you not come over to the Fort to-day ?" "It has been such an ugly day, so disagreeable altogether, that I have remained indoors." "You missed something," said Lydia, knowingly.
"What do you mean?
What did I miss ?" "Oh, perhaps, after all, it will not interest you." "How provoking! Of course it will.

Anything or anybody would interest me to-night.

Do tell me, please." "It isn't much.

Only a young soldier came over with Major McColloch." "A soldier?
From Fort Pitt?
Do I know him?
I have met most of the officers." "No, you have never seen him.

He is a stranger to all of us." "There does not seem to be so much in your news," said Betty, in a disappointed tone.