"It will come, never fear. They will want every soldier that carries a
musket before this war is over, or I'm a much-mistaken man. Only have
patience."

"How can I? I am eating my heart out, Hyde."

"Was it to tell me this you came down here? What brings you to
Waterport this morning? Only to gossip with me?"

"That, and something more. I am on duty, detailed as orderly sergeant
to one of the Expeditionary Generals; he is just going to land from a
yacht in the bay."

"Do you know his name?"

"Yes, Wilders--another of my fine cousins. You can understand now why
I am so bitter against my relations to-day: there are too many of them
about."

"I suppose that is what's brought our Mr. Wilders here to-day--to meet
his cousin."

"And his brother; for they are on board Lord Lydstone's yacht."

"They! How many of them?"

"General Wilders has his wife with him, I believe, accompanying him to
the East."