They had consented to be his guests for a few days; but it had not occurred to them that this visit would be prolonged to any great length, and yet thus it came about.

Colonel Wolfe and his wife, the mother of whom the young soldier often spoke in tender and loving terms, were detained from rejoining their son, as they had purposed doing before the winter came.  Colonel Wolfe had a property of his own in Kent, and his presence was wanted there.  The son was compelled to remain in the neighbourhood of Bath for the sake of his shattered health.  They had intended all spending the winter there together in the pleasant house they had taken; but this soon became impossible, and it was then that Wolfe said to his new friends, with that quaint look of appeal in his eyes which they had come to know by this time: 

“Could you two be persuaded to take pity upon a capricious and whimsical sick man, and be his companions through the winter months?  Then with the spring, when we know what is to be done for the succour of our comrades in the West, we will make shift to go forth to their assistance.  If you will stay with me till then, I will promise you shall not lack fitting equipment to follow the army when it sails hence.”

There was nothing the two companions desired more by that time than to remain with Wolfe, the charm of whose personality had by that time quite fascinated them.  They felt almost like brothers already.  It was upon Humphrey’s strong arm that Wolfe would take his daily walk into the town for the needful baths or water drinkings.  It was Julian who read to him the news of the day, and they all discussed it eagerly together.  Moreover, he saw to the drilling and training of these two fine men with the keenest interest and enthusiasm.  They had the making in them of excellent soldiers, and showed an aptitude which delighted him for all sorts of exercises and feats of arms.

The war fever permeated the whole country by that time, and training and drilling were going on all around.  It was easy for the travellers to pick up all that was needful to them of comprehension as to military terms and commands.  Hours were spent by themselves and Wolfe over books and maps in the library, whilst he fought over again with them campaign after campaign—­those where he had served, and those before his time with which he had close acquaintance; and they entered more and more into the spirit of martial exercise, learning to comprehend military tactics and the art of war as they had never done before.

Meantime the news from the Western world was all bad.  The attempt upon Louisbourg had been abortive, owing to the tardiness of the English Admiral, of London the Governor out there, and the early storms which had obliged the fleet to retire even when it had mustered for the attack.

“It is shameful!” cried Wolfe with flashing eyes, as the news was made known; “England will become the laughingstock of the whole world!  Fort Oswego lost, William Henry lost, and its garrison massacred!  Louisbourg left to the French, without a blow being struck!  Shame upon us! shame upon us!  We should blush for our tardy procrastination.  But mark my word, this will be the last such blunder!  Pitt will take the reins in his own grasp.  We shall see a change now.”