and a half since I left, Lechmer

I could not say how many times we have been engaged. There has not been

ack again. Still I am glad

ng so much, father and my brother Bob have just been going about over the farm, and seeing to the cattle, and looking

ade up your mind to s

ed after that wound. It has not been like master and servant, sir. You have just treated me as if you had been the squire and I had been your tenant's son

ere were a score of desperate rebels, and it would have gone hard with us if aid had not come up. You stood over me when I was

r that, sir," the m

elings, Lechmere, as by your constant and faithful service, and by the care with which you looked after me. Still, as I told you before, I don't like st

rm work. Brother Bob stopped and took my place while I went soldiering, and even if I were willing to go back to it, which I am not, it would not be fair to him for me to step in just as if nothing had happened. But, anyhow,

ime will come when you may wish to make a home for yourself, and you may be sure that the first farm on the estate that falls va

ortmanteau. They were at the Hummums Hotel, in Covent Garden, and had arrived

him out of the service when he sent in his own papers-no one could avoid seeing that he had served, for in addition to the military carriage there was the evidence of two deep scars on his face, the handiwork of the mutineers' sabres on the day w

ire refit before I go down. You had better come round with me to the tailor's to

know down there when you are coming home. T

me as they will give me. Indeed, it ought to be a good deal heartier, for you have been livi

penham. Mr. Norton, the steward, was o

d from the carriage. "We were all glad, indeed, when we he

he shook the man's hand. "We had warm work of it for a bit, but at

agent to where George was standing with the pile of luggage. "You have hear

hardly have known you. Indeed, I am sure I should not have done so if I had m

earnt to stand upright, and I shall be some time b

e about your getting the Victoria Cross in saving the squire's

eady to be

ve got the dog cart ou

you ought to come in a different sort of style, and so without asking me about it they ordered an open carriage to

helped," Mallett laughed. "Of

in the dog cart, and come

ge, but you must come with me. I have g

rt had gone on ahead. There was an amused look on his face, which was explained when, on going out, Mallett found an open carriage wi

one of dismay. "I shall feel as if

family colours

colours, too. Well, it cannot be helped, an

e, Norton," he went on, as he took his place,

on the lawn, and there are going to be some bonfires in the evening, and they have got a big box of fireworks down from London. Why, sir, it would be strange

"and, indeed, Norton, one cannot help being pleased

had been erected, and a score of the tenants and tenants' sons, assembled on hors

ehind. Give him a cheer, too!"

anking them heartily for the welcome they had given him, and

re. As you all know, he saved my life at the risk of his own, and has received the greatest honour a soldier can gain–

the drive up to the house another and larger arch had been erected. Here the rest of the tenants an

ng with these for a short time, Frank went round among the tenants, saying a few words to each. When he had done this he i

r before received a letter from Lady Greendale, telling him of Sir John's sudden death, a

th, and people say that it is not likely that they will be much at home again f

aughter of Lord H

London better than the country; and now that Miss Bertha is out-for she was presented at

ht she would, but, of course, when I went aw

e without a bit of pride about her, and very high spirited; and, I should say, full of fun, though of course the place has been pretty well shut up for the last year. For four

ou for a time, Mallett?" one of his f

a bit. After the life I have led, I am afraid that I s

wife, Major Mallett,"

e present my inclination turns towards yachting. I have always been fond of the water, and had a strong wish to go to sea when I was a boy, but that aspiration was not encouraged. However, I can follow my bent now. Norton has

u won't be here at

in September or October, and for hunting a month or two later on; besides, I have to renew my acquaintance with my tenants

settle dow

good," he laughed. "I suppose

of passing much time

nd of course it was of no use to me. I have never had any opportunities for society, and my present idea

even if I had a longing for society, I know no one in what are termed

Major Mallett. Why, Lady Greendal

all trouble her to do

on as they arrived, he would be at liberty

said. "I shall get on very we

if I did not do that. Then after breakfast, if you do not want me, I can go to the farm for a few hours. Of course I shall have

e a right to a month's leave. As you have got your six months' batta in hand, besides your savings, yo

s had money or jewels about them, and all of us got something; some good prizes. So one way or another I have made as much or more in the two years' soldiering as I should have done in two years' farming

oing on satisfactor

he got the chance. Of course, so long as I was there he had not much responsibility, but I could see

oing over

at I might look in some time in the morning, but that I

kfast I will walk over to the farm with you. I only had time for a word with your f

farm with George. The latter's father and mother were both in the house, an unusual

ire said yesterday that he would come over sometime, and I

r when they saw Frank coming ac

e had behaved, and how he had saved my life; but I had to write the day afterwards, and my head was still ringing from the sabre cut that had for a time knocked all the sense out of me, and therefore I had to cut it very short. How gallantly he defended my life against a dozen

George had not followed them in, but on inquiring whe

ot know for sure where he was. He had said he meant to enlist, and from the humour that he was in when he went away we guessed it to be in some regiment where he could get to the wars. We felt the more glad, as you may guess, from the fact t

an, Lechmere. He to

t know where to write to, nor how to set about finding out where he was, and so you can guess how pleased we we

ou yet, Squire, what we thought of it. I do not know that I shall ever be able to tell you, and we shall never cease to thank the good Lord for saving George from being a murderer in his madness-a mur

l, and was a most devoted servant to me, but the weight of this business pressed heavily upon him, and in spite of all I could say he held himself aloof as much as possible from his comrades; but after that he changed altogether. He felt, as he told me, that

le, saying that he preferred remaining with me, though the Colonel told him that, after what he had done, he would stand a good chance of promotion, after two or three years' service, as a sergeant. He told me that he knew his jealou

hat the poor girl

when he heard t

but from other things that came o

not want to have them confirmed. The fellow I suspect is no friend of mine, and I don't want to know an

ain. If he hadn't, I believe that we should have horsewhipped him through the town. Three months afterwards his estate was put up for sale, and he has never been down in this part of the country since; not that he was ever here much before

etimes, and after some matters that had passed between us years ago we could scarcely have met on friendly terms. However, as there is nothing beyon

d her mother, though she kept it from her father for fear he would break the law. At any rate, it is a go

andlord, as far as I know, have given no grounds for dislike to my tenants, was suspected un

he farm been going

last things these scientific chaps have found out; so matters are pretty well squared. Altogether, I have no call to grumble, and I ain't likely, Squire, to have to ask for time on rent day. We were worried sorely about Geor

ight not be here now talking to you if it had not taken place, for it was the memory of that which led George to the desperate action which saved my

ld have taken to service; but, of course, it is different with you, Squire. It is only natural that a Lechmere should serve a Mallett, seeing that our fathers have been your fathers' tenants for hundreds of years, so that even if all this had not happened we

tisfied and everything going on well, I shall very soon begin to feel restless, and shall be running off somewhere. You see, I have never been broken in to a c

ation she had been crying quietly, and had since been busying herself in placing decanters and glasses and a huge homemade cake on the ta

a glass of wine and a

e of your cake. Many and many a slice of it have I h

drank a glass of wine, and refusing the of

h, and I know that the tray will be put on the table everywhere. I can say that I have eaten so much cake here that I cannot eat more.

ill meet them at the gate. If I were to begin a reg

t ain't his face so much, though he is well nigh as brown as that cake, but it is his figure.

e is a good deal in the cut of the clothes. You see, there is not much difference in the materia

Bob, and then, saying that he would certainly come in aga