Would she notice him--speak to him?
The man could not forbear lifting his eyes to her face as the carriage swept by.

He saw her glance toward him, smile, with a little gesture of recognition, and stood there bareheaded, his heart throbbing wildly.

With that look, that smile, he instantly realized two facts of importance--she was willing to meet him on terms of friendship, and she had not recognized him the evening previous as he ran past her in the dark.
Hamlin, his thoughts entirely centred upon Miss McDonald, had scarcely noted her companion, yet as he lingered while the carriage drew up before the Major's quarters, he seemed to remember vaguely that she was a strikingly beautiful blonde, with face shadowed by a broad hat.
Although larger, and with light fluffy hair and blue eyes, the lady's features were strangely like those of her slightly younger companion.
The memory of these grew clearer before the Sergeant--the whiteness of the face, the sudden lowering of the head; then he knew her; across the chasm of years her identity smote him as a blow; his breath came quickly and his fingers clenched.
"My God!" he muttered, unconsciously.

"That was Vera! She has changed, wonderfully changed, but--but she knew me.

What, in Heaven's name, can she be doing here, and--with Molly ?" With straining eyes he stared after them until they both disappeared together within the house.