"If it's to be to-night, don't let it go off with too loud a bang. I don't know if I told you that the whole regiment has decided to come. They telegraphed this afternoon that they would all be able to get off, as I understand, to a man. You'll have a chance of dropping a bombshell at the feet of every one of them."
"I should like to. Every time I look at Mr. Noel Draycott I feel--I can't tell you what I feel."
"Any news of the absentee?"
"None; but I'm beginning to dream of him again."
"You'd better be careful what you have for dinner; eat nothing for at least three hours before you go to bed."
"Last night I dreamt that he was starving; and to save himself from starving he was doing something so awful that it woke me up, and I lay wide awake, trembling with terror."
"You poor child! You may congratulate yourself that it was a dream. Are you coming? I must be off."
"I'll follow in a minute or two; don't you wait for me."
Left alone, the girl tried to resume her study of the small volume she was holding; but the effort seemed in vain. Her eyes refused to be fixed upon the page; they stared into vacancy at something which was not there. She rose; placing the little book in a leather case which stood upon the dressing-table, she pressed down the lid, which shut with a spring.
"It's very odd, but I seem to feel that something is going to happen to-night; I wonder what it is?"