Egbert, looking as gloomy as Hamlet, was tinkering with the motor-bicycle.

He greeted his sister with something between a sigh and a grunt, whistled monotonously for a moment or two, then burst into confidence.
"Look here, Ingred; I can't stand this any longer.

I wish I were back in the army! I've a jolly good mind to chuck everything up, and re-enlist!" "Is it as bad as all that ?" asked Ingred.
"Yes, I'm about fed up with life.

If it weren't for the little Mater I'd have cleared out before this.

Perhaps she'll miss me, but I don't know that anybody else will, and I don't care!" "How about Miss Bertrand ?" asked Ingred, obeying a sudden impulse of mischief.
Egbert flung down a spanner, and turned to her the most astonished face in the world.
"What do _you_ know about Miss Bertrand ?" he queried.
Ingred chuckled delightedly.