“We shall be as happy as the day is long,” said Noel, smiling straight into her eyes.  “Now, little sweetheart,” turning to Peggy, “I must be off.  We’ve got some tough work in front of us.”

“I hope you’ll win,” said Olga.

He stood up, looking very straight and handsome.  His dark eyes, laughing downwards, seemed to challenge her to detect any shadow of disappointment in them.

“Win!  Why, of course we shall.  We’re going to lick Akbar & Co. into the middle of next week—­for the honour of the Regiment and Badgers.”

He cast an impudent glance over his shoulder towards his commanding officer, with whom, however, he was a supreme favourite; smiled again at Olga while wholly over-looking Max, then swung around on his heel and departed.

Peggy stood for a moment watching him go, then with sudden resolution put aside the arm Olga had passed around her and ran after him.

“Highly suitable,” Max said again.

Olga turned to him.  “That’s what Nick says.  But it’s such a long while for him to wait, poor boy.”

“That wouldn’t hurt him,” said Max.  “Do him all the good in the world, in fact.  He’s too much of a spoilt darling at present.”

“Oh, Max, how can you say so?  He is so splendid.”

Max’s mouth curved downwards.  He said nothing.

“Max!” Olga’s voice was anxious; it held a hint of pleading also, “you haven’t—­quarrelled, have you?”

Max turned deliberately and looked at her.  “I never quarrel,” he said.

“But you don’t seem to be on very good terms,” she said.

“The boy is such a puppy,” Max said.

“Oh, he isn’t!” she protested, flushing swiftly and very hotly.  “He—­he is the very nicest boy I know.”

He laughed a little.  “I believe you would have married him if I hadn’t come along just in time.”

Olga turned her burning face to the field.  She was silent for a space, studying the mixed crowd assembled there, till, feeling his eyes persistently upon her, she was at length impelled to speak.

“It is quite possible,” she said in a low voice.

“Really?  You like him well enough for that?” Max’s voice was quite calm, even impersonal.  He spoke as one seeking information on a point that concerned him not at all.

Again for a time Olga was silent while the deep flush slowly died out of her face.  At last with a little gesture of confidence only observable by him, she slipped her hand under his arm.  “I wasn’t in love with him, Max,” she whispered.  “But—­I think—­perhaps I could have been.”

He pressed her hand to him with no visible movement.  “And now?” he said.

“Ah, no, not now,” she murmured, half-laughing.  “You have quite put an end to that.”

They were interrupted.  Colonel Bradlaw had just heard of their engagement from Daisy, and came up to make Max’s acquaintance and to offer his pompous felicitations.