So saying he quitted the room, leaving the young couple alone; for there chanced to be no other visitors to the reception-room at the time. In the lobby he found several soldiers and a couple of sailors enjoying coffee at the bar, and was about to join them when a man came forward whose dress was that of a civilian, though his bearing proclaimed him a soldier.
“Hallo, Brown,” exclaimed one of the soldiers, “d’ye know that a troop-ship has just come in!”
“Know it? of course I do; you may trust the people of this house to be first in hearing such news.”
“Mr Tufnell told me of it. I’m just going down to the jetty to boil the kettle for them.”
As he spoke, two ladies of the Institute descended the broad staircase, each with a basket on her arm.
They entered into conversation for a few minutes with the soldiers at the bar, and it was abundantly evident to Miles, from the kindly tone of the former and the respectful air of the latter, that they were familiar acquaintances, and on the best of terms.
“Are you all ready, Brown?” asked one of the ladies of the soldier-like civilian, whom we have already mentioned.
“All ready, Miss; a man has already gone to order the bread and butter and light the fire. I hear the vessel is crowded, so we may expect a full house to-night.”
Miles pricked up his ears on hearing this, and when Brown went out, leaving the two ladies to finish their conversation with the soldiers, he followed him.
“Pardon me,” he said, on overtaking the man. “Did I understand correctly that a troop-ship has just arrived?”