ce, and drew a chair up to the
fire.

'O mother, would you tell Mr. Miller, if he don't know?'

'Mister Miller! and going to be married in six days!' he interposed.

'Ah--he don't know it yet!' murmured Mrs. Paddock.

'Know what?'

'Well--John Clark--now Sergeant-Major Clark--wasn't shot at Alma after
all. 'Twas another of almost the same name.'

'Now that's interesting! There were several cases like that.'

'And he's home again; and he's coming here to-night to see her.'

'Whatever shall I say, that he may not be offended with what I've done?'
interposed Selina.

'But why should it matter if he be?'

'O! I must agree to be his wife if he forgives me--of course I must.'

'Must! But why not say nay, Selina, even if he do forgive 'ee?'

'O no! How can I without being wicked? You were very very kind, Mr.
Miller, to ask me to have you; no other man would have done it after what
had happened; and I agreed, even though I did not feel half so warm as I
ought. Yet it was entirely owing to my believing him in the grave, as I
knew that if he were not he would carry out his promise; and this shows
that I was right in trusting him.'

'Yes . . . He must be a goodish sort of fellow,' said Mr. Miller, for a
moment so impressed with the excellently faithful conduct of the sergeant-
major of dragoons that he disregarded its effect upon his own position.
He sighed slowly and added, 'Well, Selina, 'tis for you to say. I love
you, and I love the boy; and there's my chimney-corner and sticks o'
furniture ready for 'ee both.'

'Yes, I know! But I mustn't hear it any more now,' murmured Selina
quickly. 'John will be here soon. I hope he'll see how it all was when
I tell him. If so be I could have written it to him it would have been
better.'

'You think he doesn't know a single word about our having been on the
brink o't. But perhaps it's the other way--he's heard of it and that may
have brought him.

'Ah--perhaps he has!' she said brightening. 'And already forgives me.'

'If not, speak out straight and fair, and tell him exactly how it fell
out. If he's a man he'll see it.'

'O he's a man true enough. But I really do think I shan't have to tell
him at all, since you've put it to me that way!'

As it was now Johnny's bedtime he was carried upstairs, and when Selina
came down again her mother observed with some anxiety, 'I fancy Mr. Clark
must be here soon if he's coming; and that being so, perhaps Mr. Mi