I was standing near and overheard the close of their talk.
"I do believe you must be a member of the Peace Society!" said Freda impatiently.

"Or perhaps you have turned Quaker.

But I want to introduce you to my god-father, Mr.Fleming; you know it was his son whom your brother saved." And I heard Derrick being introduced as the brother of the hero of Saspataras Hill; and the next day he received a card for one of Mrs.
Fleming's receptions, Lawrence having previously been invited to dine there on the same night.
What happened at that party I never exactly understood.

All I could gather was that Lawrence had been tremendously feted, that Freda had been present, and that poor old Derrick was as miserable as he could be when I next saw him.

Putting two and two together, I guessed that he had been tantalised by a mere sight of her, possibly tortured by watching more favoured men enjoying long tete-a-tetes; but he would say little or nothing about it, and when, soon after, he and the Major left London, I feared that the fortnight had done my friend harm instead of good..