"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."
"And you will have your chance, in a great war like this which is coming. Everything is possible to a man whose heart is in the right place. You have pluck and spirit."