But his conversation could not be said to flow: and in endeavoring to entertain him the two ladies fought a rather uphill fight.

Then Diana discovered that he belonged to the Sixtieth Rifles, whereupon the young lady disclosed a knowledge of the British Army, and its organization, which struck her visitor as nothing short of astounding.

He listened to her open-mouthed while she rattled on, mainly to fill up the gaps in his own remarks; and when she paused, he bluntly complimented her on her information.

"Oh, that was papa!" said Diana, with a smile and a sigh.
"He taught me all he could about the Army, though he himself had only been a Volunteer.

There was an old _History of the British Army_ I was brought up on.