At the same time she was never merely dazzled; and never, for one moment, covetous or envious.  He was struck with her simple dignity and independence; and he perfectly understood that a being so profoundly in love, and so overshadowed by a great fear, could only lend, so to speak, her outer mind to Carton or the persons in it.  He gathered roses for her, and did his utmost to please her.  But she seemed to him all the time like a little hovering elf—­smiling and gay—­but quite intangible.

* * * * *

Dinner in the ‘cottage’ was short, but in Bridget’s eyes perfect.  Personally, she was not enjoying herself very much, for she had made up her mind that she did not get on with military men, and that it was their fault, not hers; so that she sat often silent, a fact however unnoticed in the general clatter of the table.  She took it quite calmly, and was more than compensated for the lack of conversation by the whole spectacle of the Farrell wealth; the flowers, the silver, the costly accessories of all kinds, which even in war-time, and in a ‘cottage,’ seemed to be indispensable.  It would have been more amusing, no doubt, if it had been the big house and not the cottage.  Sometimes through the open windows and the trees, she caught sight of the great lighted pile a little way off, and found herself dreaming of what it would be to live there, and to command all that these people commanded.  She saw herself sweeping through the magnificent rooms, giving orders, inviting guests, entertaining royalty, driving about the country in splendid motors.  It was a waking dream, and though she never uttered a word, the animation of her thoughts infused a similar animation into her aspect, and made her almost unconscious of her neighbours.  Captain Marsworth made several attempts to win her attention before she heard him.

‘Yes.’

She turned at last an absent glance upon him.

’Miss Farrell talks of our all going over to the hospital after dinner.  She and Sir William often spend the evening there,’ said Captain Marsworth, quite aware from Miss Farrell’s frequent glances in his direction that he was not in her opinion doing his duty with Miss Cookson.

‘Will it take us long?’ said Bridget, the vivacity of her look dying out.

‘As long as you please to stay!’ laughed the Captain, drily.

* * * * *

That passage after dinner through the convalescent wards of the finely equipped hospital was to Nelly Sarratt an almost intolerable experience.  She went bravely through it, leaving, wherever she talked to a convalescent, an impression of shy sweetness behind her, which made a good many eyes follow her as Farrell led her through the rooms.  But she was thankful when it was over; and when, at last, she was alone in her room for the night, she flew—­for consolation—­to the drawer in which she had locked her writing-desk, and the letters she had received that morning.  The post had just arrived as they were leaving Rydal, and she had hastily torn open a letter from George, and thrust the others into a large empty envelope.  And now she discovered among them to her delight a second letter from George, unopened.  What unexpected joy!