some distance, hemmed in by an impassable barrier of eager
spectators.

Lawrence Vaughan rode past, looking wonderfully well in his uniform.
He was riding a spirited bay, which took Freda's fancy amazingly,
though she reserved her chief enthusiasm for Lord Starcross and his
steed. It was not until all was over, and we had returned to the
drawing-room, that Derrick managed to get the talk with Freda for
which I knew he was longing, and then they were fated, apparently,
to disagree. 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