It was a fine night, the two men walked back to their quarters.
"How did you get on with the charmer? I saw you seemed very confidential together," asked the older man.
"Splendidly, old chap. She told me a lot about her history." Pomfret related all he had been told in full. "And how did you get on with the brother?"
"Don't ask me," replied Hugh with a groan. "He's the most insufferable creature I ever came across. I don't really think I can go there again. At the beginning of the evening he started fairly well, but later he reverted to type."
"Well, I may as well tell you straight, I shall. The next time we go I'll take a share of the brother."
When Pomfret spoke in that tone he meant what he said, and Hugh knew he would have his own wilful way.
There was one piece of information which the young subaltern had not imparted to his friend.
It was this—that after much pressing, and more than one refusal, Miss Burton had agreed to meet him to-morrow afternoon at a very sequestered spot about a mile and a half from Blankfield, with the view of pursuing their acquaintance.