But she had allowed her brother to build and furnish the cottage for her as lavishly as he pleased, and during his long widowhood she had been of much help to him in the management of the huge household at Carton Hall, and in the bringing up of his two children.  After her death, the house had remained empty for some time, till, six months after the outbreak of war, Farrell had handed over the Hall to the War Office, and he and his sister had migrated to the smaller house.

Bridget was aware, as she followed her sister, of rooms small but numerous opening out on many sides, of long corridors with glistening teak floors, of windows open to a garden ablaze with roses.  Sir William led them to what seemed a buzz of voices, and opened a door.

Cicely Farrell rose languidly from a table surrounded by laughing young men, and advanced to meet the newcomers.  Nelly found herself shaking hands with the Captain Marsworth she had seen at Loughrigg Tarn, and being introduced by Sir William to various young officers, some in khaki, visitants from a neighbouring camp, and some from the Hall, in various forms of convalescent undress, grey flannel suits, khaki tunics with flannel ‘slacks,’ or full khaki, as the wearers pleased.  The little lady in white had drawn all the male eyes upon her as she came in, and those who rapidly resumed their talk with Miss Farrell or each other, interrupted by the entrance of the newcomers, were no less aware of her than those who, with Farrell, devoted themselves to supply the two sisters with tea.

Nelly herself, extremely shy, but sustained somehow by the thought that she must hold her own in this new world, was soon deep in conversation with a charming youth, who owned a long, slightly lantern-jawed face and fair hair, moved on crutches with a slung knee, and took everything including his wound as ‘funny.’

‘Where is your husband?’ he asked her.  ’Sir William thinks he is somewhere near Festubert?  My hat, the Lanchesters have been having a hot time there!—­funny, isn’t it?  But they’ll be moved to an easier job soon.  They’re always in luck—­the Lanchesters—­funny, I call it?—­what?  I wouldn’t worry if I were you.  Your husband’s got through this all right—­mightn’t have another such show for ages.  These things are awful chancey—­funny, isn’t it?  Oh, my wound?—­well, it was just when I was getting over the parados to move back to billets—­that the brute got me.  Funny, wasn’t it?  Hullo!—­here’s a swell!  My hat!—­it’s General Torr!’

Nelly looked up bewildered to see a group of officers enter the room, headed by a magnificent soldier, with light brown hair, handsome features, and a broad be-ribboned chest.  Miss Farrell greeted him and his comrades with her best smiles; and Nelly observed her closely, as she stood laughing and talking among them.  Sir William’s sister was in uniform, if it could be called a uniform.  She wore a nurse’s cap and apron over a pale blue dress of some soft