Begumbagh | Page 9

to sing duets with Captain Dyer, because the colonel wished it, though
it was plain to see Mrs Maine didn't like it, any more than did
Lieutenant Leigh, who, more than once, as I've seen, walked out,
looking fierce and angry, to strike off right away from the camp,
perhaps not to come back for a couple of hours.
It was one night when we'd been about a fortnight on the way, for
during the past week the colonel had been letting us go on very easily, I
was sentry at the tent. There had been some singing, and Lieutenant
Leigh had gone off in the middle of a duet. Then the doctor, the colonel,
and a couple of subs were busy over a game at whist, and the black
nurse had beckoned Mrs Maine out, I suppose to see something about
the two children; when Captain Dyer and Miss Ross walked together

just outside the tent, she holding by one of the cords, and he standing
close beside her.
They did not say much, but stood looking up at the bright silver moon
and the glittering stars; while he said a word now and then about the
beauty of the scene, the white tents, the twinkling lights here and there,
and the soft peaceful aspect of all around; and then his voice seemed to
grow lower and deeper as he spoke from time to time, though I could
hardly hear a word, as I stood there like a statue watching her
beautiful face, with the great clusters of hair knotted back from her
broad white forehead, the moon shining full on it, and seeming to make
her eyes flash as they were turned to him.
They must have stood there full half an hour, when she turned as if to
go back, but he laid his hand upon hers as it held the tent cord, and
said something very earnestly, when she turned to him again to look
him full in the face, and I saw that her hand was not moved.
Then they were silent for a few seconds before he spoke again, loud
enough for me to hear.
"I must ask you," he said huskily; "my peace depends upon it. I know
that it has always been understood that you were to be introduced to
Lieutenant Leigh. I can see now plainly enough what are your sister's
wishes; but hearts are ungovernable, Miss Ross, and I tell you
earnestly, as a simple, truth-speaking man, that you have roused
feelings that until now slept quietly in my breast. If I am presumptuous,
forgive me--love is bold as well as timid--but at least set me at rest: tell
me, is there any engagement between you and Lieutenant Leigh?"
She did not speak for a few moments, but met his gaze--so it seemed to
me--without shrinking, before saying one word, so softly, that it was
like one of the whispers of the breeze crossing the plain--and that word
was "No!"
"God bless you for that answer, Miss Ross--Elsie," he said deeply; and
then his head was bent down for an instant over the hand that rested on
the cord, before Miss Ross glided away from him into the tent, and

went and stood resting with her hand upon the colonel's shoulder, when
he, evidently in high glee, began to shew her his cards, laughing and
pointing to first one, and then another, for he seemed to be having luck
on his side.
But I had no more eyes then for the inside of the tent, for Captain Dyer
just seemed to awaken to the fact that I was standing close by him as
sentry, and he gave quite a start as he looked at me for a few moments
without speaking. Then he took a step forward.
"Who is this? Oh, thank goodness!" (he said those few words in an
undertone, but I happened to hear them). "Smith," he said, "I forgot
there was a sentry there. You saw me talking to that lady?"
"Yes, sir," I said.
"You saw everything?"
"Yes, sir."
"And you heard all?"
"No, sir, not all; only what you said last."
Then he was silent again for a few moments, but only to lay his hand
directly after on my chest.
"Smith," he said, "I would rather you had not seen this; and if it had
been any other man in my company, I should perhaps have offered him
money, to insure that there was no idle chattering at the mess-tables;
but you I ask, as a man I can trust, to give me your word of honour as a
soldier to let what you have seen and heard be sacred."
"Thank you, captain," I said, speaking thick, for somehow his words
seemed to touch me. "You