After that first visit the handsome young sergeant became a frequent partaker of the hospitality of the “British Lion.”  He never omitted to accompany the Pikes, and not seldom walked over on a summer’s evening to smoke a pipe with Stephen and feast his eyes surreptitiously upon Stephen’s attractive daughter.  He proved, on acquaintance, to be an intelligent, well-spoken young fellow, evidently superior to most of his class; this was owing to the fact that he was a farmer’s son, left, through a combination of circumstances, orphaned and almost destitute, who had found in the army a welcome means of livelihood.

It was not long before Spence was on as familiar a footing at the “British Lion” as his fellow-sergeant.  It was strange that both Stephen Dale and his wife were altogether blind to the real reason for his frequent visits.  Penny, on the other hand, had early discerned the state of the young man’s feelings toward her; but instinctively she guarded her secret from all.  Even when Spence had spoken, and had learned her strong affection for him, she insisted that all knowledge of their mutual understanding should be kept from her parents until she could gauge their feelings in the matter.  She was not without uneasiness; for it seemed extremely doubtful whether her father—­much as he liked her lover—­would consider him suitable as a son-in-law.  For her mother’s opinion she felt no anxiety; since Sarah Dale was thoroughly under her husband’s thumb.  Penny’s own strong will had come to her from her father alone.

The course of events was much like that of other instances of the kind.  Clandestine letters, less frequent meetings—­as opportunity offered—­ran the usual risk; in due time, as might have been expected by any but ardent lovers, the secret oozed out.  Some busybody or other lost no time in conveying the startling news to Stephen Dale, who had hitherto had no suspicion of the state of things.

To say that Penny’s father was disappointed would be an altogether inadequate description of his state of mind; he was thoroughly enraged.  Never in her life had his daughter seen him give way to such unrestrained passion; for never before had his hopes and aspirations been so entirely thrown over.  He had set his heart upon establishing his darling in a position in life as far above his own as might be possible; now, by her own initiative, she had paved the way to an evident descent in the social scale.  Not content with choosing one far beneath her, she had even chosen a Protestant!  Yet Stephen had too strong a will to be easily contravened.  He was determined to prevent, at all costs, such a disaster.  His first impulse was to relieve his mind by telling Spence in no measured language what he thought of his conduct; the latter had perforce to keep silent, however exaggerated the abuse heaped upon him, for his conscience told him that he was in fault.  Penny was the next to listen to some very candid truths as to the uprightness of her part