at dinner this evening she had on a dress of black alpaca, made after a
very quiet and nun-like style; with a thin streak of snow-white collar
and cuff round throat and wrist; but without any ornament save a
necklace of bog-oak, cut after an antique pattern, and a tiny gold
locket in which was a photographic likeness of Sister Agnes.

That was a very pleasant little dinner-party. In the course of
conversation it came out that, a few days previously, Captain George had
been decorated with the Victoria Cross. Janet's heart thrilled within
her as the Major told in simple, unexaggerated terms of the special deed
of heroism by which the great distinction had been won. The Major told
also how George was now invalided on half-pay; and her heart thrilled
with a still sweeter emotion when he went on to say that the young
soldier would henceforth reside with him at Eastbury--at Eastbury, which
was only two short miles from Deepley Walls! The feeling with which she
heard this simple piece of news was one to which she had hitherto been
an utter stranger. She asked herself, and blushed as she asked, whence
this new sweet feeling emanated? But she was satisfied with asking the
question, and seemed to think that no answer was required.

When dinner was over, they set out for the play. Janet had never been
inside a theatre before, and for her the experience was an utterly novel
and delightful one.

On the third day after Janet's arrival in London they all went down to
Eastbury together--the Major, and she and George. But in the course of
those three days the Major took Janet about a good deal, and introduced
her to nearly all the orthodox sights of the Great City--and a strange
kaleidoscopic jumble they seemed at the time, only to be afterwards
rearranged by memory as portions of a bright and sunny picture the like