“What, my dear?”
She paused and looked full at her questioner.
“This,” she said: “you know I am not an especially nice girl, but I can admire goodness when I see it in others. Now, no one was ever half so good as Nancy; and even if appearances seem to have been against her, she was far and away the best of us all.—Oh, what am I saying? What utter nonsense am I talking? Will you take me back to the ballroom, please? I would not miss the next waltz for anything.”
“I will take you back when you have explained your last words.”
“There is nothing to explain—nothing at all. I spoke quite at random. Dear little Nancy! I am as fond of her as you are.”
“Listen, Augusta,” said the Captain. “I didn’t mean to confide in you, but I will. You know of the little ceremony which is to take place to-night when the dance is over. We are to go into the inner drawing-room, and there it will be decided, from what I shall read aloud out of the orderly-book, which of you four girls is to receive the Royal Cross.”
“Of course; I know that,” answered Augusta.
“Yes; but listen. There is an entry in the orderly-book against Nancy’s name which puts her out of the running.”
“Puts her out of the running!” whispered Augusta. Her very lips were white.
Captain Richmond’s eyes seemed like gimlets piercing into her soul.