"Oh, I do hope you will," said Mrs. Dutton.
"I have a feeling that I shall," said Mr. Stiles, crossing glances with his friend. "The only thing is my people; they want me to join them at Lord Tufton's place."
Mrs. Dutton trembled with delight at being in the company of a man with such friends. "What a change shore-life must be to you after the perils of the sea!" she murmured.
"Ah!" said Mr. Stiles. "True! True!"
"The dreadful fighting," said Mrs. Dutton, closing her eyes and shuddering.
"You get used to it," said the hero, simply. "Hottest time I had I think was at the bombardment of Alexandria. I stood alone. All the men who hadn't been shot down had fled, and the shells were bursting round me like—like fireworks."
The widow clasped her hands and shuddered again.
"I was standing just behind 'im, waiting any orders he might give," said Mr. Burton.
"Were you?" said Mr. Stiles, sharply—"were you? I don't remember it, Burton."
"Why," said Mr. Burton, with a faint laugh, "I was just behind you, sir. If you remember, sir, I said to you that it was pretty hot work."