"Hush—remember Flora!" whispered Lady Rohallion.
"And the duel, too," persisted the old lord; "pah! in my time we didn't fight about such trumpery ware as French dancers. But what says Cosmo?"
"He comes home by the next mail," replied Lady Rohallion, a bright and motherly smile spreading like sunshine over her face; "how I shall rejoice to see him—the dear boy!"
"A dear boy, indeed!" said his lordship; "his Guards' life has cost me ten thousand guineas, if it has cost me a sixpence, Winny."
"Cosmo is coming," said Lady Rohallion, pointedly; "do you hear, Flora?"
"Yes, madam," replied Flora, colouring, and casting a furtive glance at Quentin, who appeared to be solely occupied with his coffee and kippered salmon.
"Cosmo writes that he has succeeded, by a death-vacancy, to the majority of his battalion of the Guards, which, of course, gives him the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the army."
"As captain he has enjoyed that for some years."
"He has therefore applied for the command of a line regiment."
"That will be simple enough, as so many second battalions are being raised just now for this projected expedition to Spain."