A change had come o'er the spirit of Mayne's dream; a bolt had descended from the blue! If Nancy had ten thousand a year, or thereabouts, how, he asked himself, could he come forward, and claim her? He had suddenly lost all interest in the meeting,—he had also mislaid his companion, and strolled over, and leant on the rails; not as others, watching an exciting race, but digesting Mrs. Hicks' unwelcome information. Her news, had altered the whole of his plans. Plans hastily made; and as hastily shattered.
Suddenly a heavy hand smote him on the back, and turning about he beheld Major Cathcart, looking remarkably spruce, and cheerful. "Glad to see you, old man," he began. "All the world seems to have turned up here to-day; and what a rare good meeting! I have pulled off a nice little haul." Then, after an expressive pause.... "You've had a bad time, I'm afraid!"
"Oh, no," replied Mayne, standing erect, and facing the speaker, "I've done pretty well, too."
"I say," now indicating a flowing tide of departures,—"if you are going by this train, we may as well toddle down together, and discuss old times."
Mayne nodded assent, and turned to accompany him.
"Where are you staying?" inquired Cathcart.
"With my mother, in Charles Street."
"And what leave have they given you?"
"All I asked for—three months."
"Of course you'll get an extension! Do you know that there has been quite a gathering of the hill tribes here to-day? I spotted Mrs. Hicks,—by George, what a sight! she ought to be in the Zoo, among the cockatoos. Her eldest girl, and Teddy Dawson, were with her, and then there's you and me,—and last but not least, Miss Nancy Travers! There's a transformation! She's a tremendous success, I can tell you. Men actually biting, and scratching one another, to get hold of her at dances, and so on. She's deuced ornamental, and well gilded too! and has slipped into the rôle of heiress, and beauty,—as easily as an old glove. You'd never believe she is the same girl as our little red-haired flapper! Have you come across her?"