moment we reached home Ethelbertha looked for Amenda, and I looked
for my hat. Neither was to be found.

"Nine o'clock struck, ten o'clock struck. At half-past ten, we went down
and got our own supper, and had it in the kitchen. At a quarter-past
eleven, Amenda returned. She walked into the kitchen without a word,
hung my hat up behind the door, and commenced clearing away the supper
things.

"Ethelbertha rose, calm but severe.

"'Where have you been, Amenda?' she inquired.

"'Gadding half over the county with a lot of low soldiers,' answered
Amenda, continuing her work.

"'You had on my hat,' I added.

"'Yes, sir,' replied Amenda, still continuing her work, 'it was the first
thing that came to hand. What I'm thankful for is that it wasn't
missis's best bonnet.'

"Whether Ethelbertha was mollified by the proper spirit displayed in this
last remark, I cannot say, but I think it probable. At all events, it
was in a voice more of sorrow than of anger that she resumed her
examination.

"'You were walking with a soldier's arm around your waist when we passed
you, Amenda?' she observed interrogatively.

"'I know, mum,' admitted Amenda, 'I found it there myself when the music
stopped.'

"Ethelbertha looked her inquiries. Amenda filled a saucepan with water,
and then replied to them.

"'I'm a disgrace to a decent household,' she said; 'no mistress who
respected herself would keep me a moment. I ought to be put on the
doorstep with my box and a month's wages.'

"'But why did you do it then?' said Ethelbertha, with natural
astonishment.

"'Because I'm a helpless ninny, mum. I can't help myself; if I see
soldiers I'm bound to follow them. It runs in our family. My poor
cousin Emma was just such another fool. She was engaged to be married to
a quiet, respectable young fellow with a shop of his own, and three days
before the wedding she ran off with a regiment of marines to Chatham and
married the colour-sergeant. That's what I shall end by doing. I've
been all the way to Sandgate with that lot you saw me with, and I've
kissed four of them--the nasty wretches. I'm a nice sort of girl to be
walking out with a respectable milkman.'

"She was so deeply disgusted with herself that it seemed superfluous for
anybody else to be indignant with her; and Ethelbertha changed her tone
and tried to comfort her.

"'Oh, you'll get over all that nonsense, Amenda,' she said, laughingly;
'you see yourself how silly