Major Conway seemed quite anxious that he should be
there betimes in the morning, and, doubtless, had some good reason for
it.
"Why do you not give him a hint?" asked Hatton, "perhaps he has
forgotten it."
"He is your colonel, and the hint would come better from you."
"Thank you," said Hatton. "But in our regiment, it is contrary to the
etiquette to hint to the colonel that he is neglecting his duty."
"But it seems," said Goring, "that the rule does not apply to the
brigade. The major tells me that L'Isle has freely censured my lord's
remissness, and urged him to enforce more stringent discipline."
"How did my lord take it?"
"Like a slap in the face," answered Goring. "At least he treated it as
a great piece of presumption, and L'Isle was thoroughly angered at the
rough answer he got. Indeed, Conway thinks that there is nothing but
ill blood between them."
"That does not look much like it," said Hatton, glancing at Lady
Mabel, with L'Isle at her elbow.
"Let us go and beat about the bushes; we may start some thing worth
chasing!"
The two friends, looking like a greyhound and a bull-terrier coupled
together, proceeded to hunt in couple, by thrusting themselves into
the cluster of gentlemen around Lady Mabel.
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