And then conversation drifted into other channels. Hilda explained her presence on board. She was an only daughter; her brother had been wounded and missing at Messines, and her mother had never properly recovered from the shock. Colonel Vivian had been in command of a battalion in Egypt and Palestine, and on the homeward voyage the transport had been mined off Cape de Gata, in the course of which he had received an injury to his thigh that had incapacitated him from further active service.
"I know that bit," said Alwyn to himself. He felt pretty certain of it from the moment he saw the colonel board the _Donibristle_ at Vancouver; but now there was no doubt on the matter. He made no audible remark, but allowed his fair companion to "carry on".
After the Armistice Colonel Vivian went on the retired list. He was not a rich man, having little means beyond his pension; and specialists' fees incurred by his wife's illness made a heavy drain upon the colonel's exchequer. One specialist expressed his opinion that the only thing likely to benefit Mrs. Vivian was a voyage round the world. Making sacrifices, Colonel Vivian was now engaged upon the protracted tour, taking passages in cargo-boats with limited accommodation in order to cut down expenses, and prolong the "rest cure" by breaking the voyage in various ports.
"I think the voyage is doing Mother good," continued the girl, "and I am enjoying it--every minute in fact. But I do wish I could have brought Peter----"
"And who is Peter?" asked Burgoyne, so abruptly that he could have bitten his tongue for having shown such a lively interest--or was it resentment?--towards Peter.
"He's simply a dear," replied Hilda. "A sheep-dog, you know. Of course, it was impossible to bring him, owing to quarantine restrictions and all that sort of thing, so we had to leave him with friends. Are you fond of dogs, Mr. Burgoyne?"
"Beagles," said Alwyn. "Hadn't much time for a dog of my own. We ran a pack of beagles at Dartmouth. Ripping sport."
"Were you at Dartmouth then?" asked Miss Vivian. "At the College?"
"Yes," replied the Third Officer. "In the _pukka_ Royal Navy. I came out some months ago, worse luck. But," he added, loyal to his present employers, "this line isn't half-bad--rather decent, in fact."