"Come in to breakfast, and I'll go with you. I shall have to explain to him how it comes that I have had to disclose the whole matter to you."
"The boys came down last night, Gracie," was the surprising news that met the Little Lady when she came down next morning.
"The boys? Whatever for, Charlie? There isn't anything wrong with them, is there?" And the startled colour flooded her face and then left it white.
"Nothing of the kind, dear. They wanted to see Sir Denzil on some family matters, and they arrived too late to go there last night, so they went to the inn."
"You're sure they haven't been getting into trouble?"
"Quite sure. They're coming in to breakfast. You'd better go and talk to Mrs. Jex about supplies. Hungry soldiers, you know." And Gracie flew to the commissariat department.
"You dear boys!" was her greeting, when they came striding in, very tall and large in their undress uniforms. "What have you been doing? Over-studying?--softening of the brain?"--to Jack. "Gambling?--and frivolling generally?"--to Jim.
"Quite out," laughed Jack. "My brain was never better in its life, and Jim's pocket never so full. Mayn't a pair of hungry men come all the way from London to see you without being accused of such iniquities?"
"It is nice to get such good reports from yourselves," laughed Gracie. "I wonder how long you can keep it up."
"It depends upon circumstances," said Jack.