Shall I go
and fetch it?"
"I wish you would, Chesham, if you don't mind, and it isn't too much
trouble."
"No trouble at all. Delighted, I'm sure," said Chesham, again raising
his cap and going off.
"Now, I wonder what I have forgotten to do."
Drummond heaved a sigh proportionate to himself.
"Under the present condition of things a bit of neglect that would go
unnoticed with another man is a sign of unrepentant villainy in me.
Any other Lieutenant may steal a horse while I may not look over a
hedge. You see how necessary it is for me to go to Russia, and get
this thing smoothed over."
"I think, perhaps, you are too sensitive, and notice slights where
nothing of the kind is meant," said the girl.
Chesham returned and handed Drummond a letter.
"Will you excuse me a moment?" he said, and as she looked at him he
flattered himself that he noticed a trace of anxiety in her eyes. He
tore open the missive.
"By Jove!" he cried.
"What is it?" she could not prevent herself from saying, leaning
forward.
"I am ordered home. The Admiralty commands me to take the first
steamer for England."
"Is that serious?"
He laughed with well-feigned hilarity.
"Oh, no, not serious; it's just their way of doing things. They might
easily have allowed me to come home in my own ship. My only fear is I
shall have to take the train for New York early to-morrow morning.
But," he said, holding out his hands, "it is not serious if you allow
me to write to you, and if you will permit me to hope that I may
receive an answer.
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