py party had sat down to dinner,
their number increased by the arrival of Mrs. Haines, who had a house
close by; "wilful lads will go their own way. I wanted to make a rich
merchant of you, and you have made of yourself a famous soldier. But
you've not done badly for yourself after all; for you have, in your
letters, often talked about prize money."

"Yes, Uncle. I have earned, in my way, close upon a hundred thousand
pounds; and I certainly shouldn't have made that if I had stuck to the
office at Madras, even with the aid of the capital you offered to lend
me, to trade with on my own account."

There was a general exclamation of surprise and pleasure, at the
mention of the sum; although this amount was small, in comparison to
that which many acquired, in those days, in India.

"And you're not thinking of going back again, Charlie?" his mother
said, anxiously. "There can be no longer any reason for your exposing
yourself to that horrible climate, and that constant fighting."

"The climate is not so bad, Mother, and the danger and excitement of a
soldier's life there, at present, render it very fascinating. But I
have done with it. Peters and I intend, on the expiration of our
leave, to resign our commissions in the Company's service, and to
settle down under our own vines and fig trees. Tim has already elected
himself to the post of my butler, and Hossein intends to be my valet
and body servant."

Immediately after their arrival, Charlie had brought in his faithful
followers and introduced them to the ladies; who, having often heard
of their devotion and faithful services, had received them with a
kindness and cordiality which had delighted them.

Lizzie, whose appearance at home had been unexpected by Charlie, for
her husband was a landed gentleman at Seven Oaks, in Kent, was, it
appeared, paying a visit of a week to her mother; and her three
children, two boys and a little girl, were duly brought down to be
shown to, and admired by, their Uncle Charles.

"And how is it you haven't married, Katie? With such a pretty face as
yours, it is scandalous that the men have allowed you to reach the
mature age of twenty-two, unmarried."

"It is the fault of the hussy herself," Mr. Tufton said. "It is not
from want of offers, for she has had a dozen, and among them some of
the nobility at court; for it is well known that John Tufton's niece
will have a dowry such as many of the nobles could not give, to their
daughters.