In a few days' time they saw from the papers that troops had been called out, and a horde of fanatics had swept down from the hills to join in the mêlée. Sidney watched for the news breathlessly. She was astonished when Gavine appeared one morning and begged to know if the daily paper had come.
"We don't get ours so soon as the Admiral, and I want to see something in it."
"It has not come yet. Sit down and wait. It won't be long now. What is it you want to see, Gavine?"
"Oh, only the account of this row on one of the Indian frontiers."
"Are you interested in it?"
"Very. I know someone out there."
Gavine was blushing. Sidney looked at her in amazement.
"Do confide in me. Father and I are interested too, in someone out there. Do you know Mr. Neville?"
"No, but I've heard of him."
The girl hesitated a little, then, meeting Sidney's affectionate and sympathetic gaze, she faltered.