But she knew that she must wait until the spring brought her majority and her freedom.

One frosty day, near Christmas, as Brune was returning from Dalton, he heard himself called in a loud, cheerful voice. He was passing Seat-Ketel, and he soon saw Harry Ketel coming quickly toward him. Harry wore a splendid scarlet uniform; and the white snow beneath his feet, and the dark green pines between which he walked, made it all the more splendid by their 175 contrast. Brune had not seen Harry for five years; but they had been companions through their boyhood, and their memories were stored with the pleasant hours they had spent together.

175

Brune passed that night, and many subsequent ones, with his old friend; and when Harry went back to his regiment he took with him a certainty that Brune would soon follow. In fact, Harry had found his old companion in that mood which is ready to accept the first opening as the gift of fate. Brune found there was a commission to be bought in the Household Foot-Guards, and he was well able to pay for it. Indeed, Brune was by no means a poor man; his father had left him seven thousand pounds, and his share of the farm’s proceeds had been constantly added to it.

Aspatria was delighted. She might now go to London in Brune’s care. They discussed the matter constantly, and began to make the preparations necessary for the change. But affairs were not then arranged 176 by steam and electricity, and the letters relating to the purchase and transfer of Brune’s commission occupied some months in their transit to and fro; although Brune did not rely upon the postman’s idea of the practicability of the roads.

176

Aspatria’s correspondence was also uncertain and unsatisfactory for some time. She had at first no guide to a school but the advertisements in the London papers which Harry sent to his friend. But one night Brune, without any special intention, named the matter to Mrs. Ketel; and that lady was able to direct Aspatria to an excellent school in Richmond, near London. And as she was much more favourably situated for a quick settlement of the affair, she undertook the necessary correspondence.

Will was not ignorant of these movements, but Alice induced him to be passive in them. “No one can then blame us, Will, whatever happens.” And as Will and Alice were extremely sensitive to public opinion, this was a good consideration. 177 Besides Alice, not unnaturally, wished to have the Seat to herself; so that Aspatria’s and Brune’s 

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