pulated that
the act of charity should be carried out at night, and as privately as
possible, and that the grave should be in an obscure part of the
enclosure. 'You had better see the young man about it at once,' added
the rector.

But before Ezra had done anything Luke came down to his house. His
furlough had been cut short, owing to new developments of the war in the
Peninsula, and being obliged to go back to his regiment immediately, he
was compelled to leave the exhumation and reinterment to his friends.
Everything was paid for, and he implored them all to see it carried out
forthwith.

With this the soldier left. The next day Ezra, on thinking the matter
over, again went across to the rectory, struck with sudden misgiving. He
had remembered that the sergeant had been buried without a coffin, and he
was not sure that a stake had not been driven through him. The business
would be more troublesome than they had at first supposed.

'Yes, indeed!' murmured the rector. 'I am afraid it is not feasible
after all.'

The next event was the arrival of a headstone by carrier from the nearest
town; to be left at Mr. Ezra Cattstock's; all expenses paid. The sexton
and the carrier deposited the stone in the former's outhouse; and Ezra,
left alone, put on his spectacles and read the brief and simple
inscription:-

HERE LYETH THE BODY OF SAMUEL HOLWAY, LATE SERGEANT IN HIS MAJESTY'S
---D REGIMENT OF FOOT, WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE DECEMBER THE 20TH, 180-.
ERECTED BY L. H.
'I AM NOT WORTHY TO BE CALLED THY SON.'

Ezra again called at the riverside rectory. 'The stone is come, sir. But
I'm afeard we can't do it nohow.'

'I should like to oblige him,' said the gentlemanly old incumbent. 'And
I would forego all fees willingly. Still, if you and the others don't
think you can carry it out, I am in doubt what to say.'

Well, sir; I've made inquiry of a Sidlinch woman as to his burial, and
what I thought seems true. They buried en wi' a new six-foot hurdle-saul
drough's body, from the sheep-pen up in North Ewelease though they won't
own to it now. And the question is, Is the moving worth while,
considering the awkwardness?'

'Have you heard anything more of the young man?'

Ezra had only heard that he had embarked that week for Spain with the
rest of the regiment. 'And if he's as desperate as 'a seemed, we shall
never see him here in England again.'

'It is an awkward case,' said the rector.

Ezra t