He began to fancy his comrades regarding him with a certain deference, and treating him with a respect that recognised his condition.

'I know the shame my father will feel when he sees to what he has driven me.

What an offence to his love of rank and station to behold his son in the coarse uniform of a private! An only son and heir, too! I can picture to myself his shock as he reads the letter in which I shall say good-bye, and then turn to tell my sister that her brother is a common soldier, and in this way lost to her for ever! 'And what is it all about?
What terrible things have I done?
What entanglements have I contracted?
Where have I forged?
Whose name have I stolen?
whose daughter seduced?
What is laid to my charge, beyond that I have lived like a gentleman, and striven to eat and drink and dress like one?
And I'll wager my life that for one who will blame him, there will be ten--no, not ten, fifty--to condemn me.

I had a kind, trustful, affectionate father, restricting himself in scores of ways to give me my education among the highest class of my contemporaries.

I was largely supplied with means, indulged in every way, and if I turned my steps towards home, welcomed with love and affection.' 'And fearfully spoiled by all the petting he met with,' said a soft voice leaning over his shoulder, while a pair of very liquid grey eyes gazed into his own.
'What, Nina!--Mademoiselle Nina, I mean,' said he, 'have you been long there ?' 'Long enough to hear you make a very pitiful lamentation over a condition that I, in my ignorance, used to believe was only a little short of Paradise.' 'You fancied that, did you ?' 'Yes, I did so fancy it.' 'Might I be bold enough to ask from what circumstance, though?
I entreat you to tell me, what belongings of mine, what resources of luxury or pleasure, what incident of my daily life, suggested this impression of yours ?' 'Perhaps, as a matter of strict reasoning, I have little to show for my conviction, but if you ask me why I thought as I did, it was simply from contrasting your condition with my own, and seeing that in everything where my lot has gloom and darkness, if not worse, yours, my ungrateful cousin, was all sunshine.' 'Let us see a little of this sunshine, Cousin Nina.