Miles was away with his battalion at the front, and Marjorie was spending a fortnight of the Christmas holidays with a school friend at Eastbourne. The two girls were hurrying down the esplanade together one bright, frosty morning in January when Marjorie suddenly found herself face to face with the Colonel. His eyes were bent down, and he passed without recognising her. With a few hurried words to her chum, she ran after him.
"How do you do, Colonel? I didn't know you were here."
He started as she addressed him. "I only came yesterday," he said; "I have got a few days' leave."
"Did you hear from Miles last mail? I did."
"Yes. He has been very regular so far."
"You must miss him awfully. Are you going this way?"
"Yes."
"Then I'll come a little way with you, if I may; I wanted to say something."
Putting her hands into her jacket pockets, she looked very gravely at him.