It is likely that these men were not the
mere creatures of accident, but had each merits of his own, and in
spite of whispered insinuations, so had Lieutenant-Colonel L'Isle,
though nephew and heir to an earl. Having chosen his profession, he
followed it laboriously and gallantly, as if he had not been heir to
an acre--but bore his fortunes on the point of his sword.
He had just reached Elvas, after spending six tedious weeks at Ciudad
Rodrigo, under the surgeon's hands. He now found his own hands full of
regimental business--accumulated against his arrival--and being a
prompt man, set himself to work, though yet little fit for it.
Though he had seen Lady Mabel but once, he was not suffered to forget
her. Every young officer he met, and many of the older, had something
to say of her, some comment to make on the attractions at
headquarters, some details to give of the witty things said, and the
graceful things done by Lady Mabel; for she said many happy things,
and did many things well, and was, at all events, sure of admiration.
All this only the more convinced L'Isle that her position was very
inappropriate to one so beautiful and young.
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