'Hopelessly?'
'I have said we are too poor to marry.'
'I don't understand this,' said Finella, greatly perplexed: 'won't he become rich in time?'
'Never: he is a soldier, fighting in Africa.'
'A soldier!' said Finella, becoming more deeply interested; 'not an officer?'
'His father or uncle was,' replied Dulcie confusedly. 'Poverty drove him into the ranks.'
'Of what regiment?'
'The 24th Warwickshire.'
Finella changed colour, and her breath seemed to be taken from her, when she heard the name of Hammersley's corps; and thus, after a time, a great gush of confidence took possession of both girls.
'I am rich,' said Finella; 'I will buy him back to you—I will, I will. Do not weep, dearest Dulcie. The memory of a past that has been happy is always sweet; is it not?'