"
"Then he and your mother are first cousins?"
"Quite so; and I am his first cousin once removed."
"Ah! that is very nice for you," said old Hyde, with a tinge of
contempt in his tone. "They're not much use to you though, these fine
relations. Surely Lord Essendine could have got you a commission by
holding up his hand?"
"That's just what he would not do, and why I hate him and the whole of
the Wilders family. Lord Essendine has never recognised us."
"Why? Is there any reason?"
"The Honourable Anastasius made a poor match, married against his
father's wish, and was cut off with a shilling. His brother, the next
earl, was disposed to make it up, but my grandfather died, and my
grandmother married again--an honest sea-captain--and the noble peer
cut her dead."
"And so you joined the Royal Picts. But I wonder you came to this
regiment to serve with your cousin."
"I enlisted, you know, a couple of years before he was gazetted to the
corps."
"Do they know you took the shilling?--that you are now a
colour-sergeant in the Royal Picts?"
"I don't think they are aware of my existence even."
"Well, never mind. Don't be cast down. The time may come when they
will be proud to recognise you. It all depends upon yourself?"
"I will do all I know to force them, you may be sure.
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