Doctor Mulhaus and Halbert staying at Major Brentwood's, while Captain Brentwood was away with Sam and Tom Troubridge to Sydney; and, having been absent some weeks, had been expected home now for a day or two.

This was the day they came home, riding slowly up to the porch about five o'clock.
When all greetings were done, and they were sat down beside the others, Jim opened the ball by asking, "What news, father ?" "What a particularly foolish question!" said the Captain.

"Why, you'll get it all in time--none the quicker for being impatient.

May be, also, when you hear some of the news, you won't like it!" "Oh, indeed!" said Jim.
"I have a letter for you here, from the Commander-in-Chief.

You are appointed to the 3-th Regiment, at present quartered in India." Alice looked at him quickly as she heard this, and, as a natural consequence, Sam looked too.