The lieutenant maintained his position after the boat had passed into the darkness and until the throb of its paddles could no longer be heard.

Then he limped through the rain to his hotel, aware, and regretfully aware, that he was growing old.

It was long since he had felt regret on that account, and the feeling was very strange to him.

Ever since the Crimea he had been upon the world's half-pay list, as he had once said to General Feversham, and what with that and the recollection of a certain magical season before the Crimea, he had looked forward to old age as an approaching friend.

To-night, however, he prayed that he might live just long enough to welcome back Muriel Graham's son with his honour redeemed and his great fault atoned..