all gold cross dangled. "You
shall wear this!" said she, blushing a little. "Come, stoop your head!"

"Why, Mrs. Agatha I--I----"

"O pray stoop your head!"

The Sergeant obeyed and it naturally followed that the Sergeant's neat
wig was very near Mrs. Agatha's pretty mob-cap, so near, indeed that a
tress of her glossy hair tickled his bronzed, smooth-shaven chin; the
Sergeant saw her eyes, grave and intent, the oval of a soft cheek, the
curve of two lips--full, soft lips, ripely delicious and tempting and
so near that he had but to turn his head----

The Sergeant turned his head and for a long, breathless moment lips met
lips then:

"Why, Sergeant!" she exclaimed breathlessly. "O
Sergeant--Zebedee--Tring!" And turning, she sped away into the house.

Left alone the Sergeant picked up his hammer, stared at it and put it
carefully into his pocket; having done which, he laughed, grew solemn,
and sighed.

"Well," said he at last, "all I says is----"

But for once he could find no words for it in English, French or Dutch.

CHAPTER XV

WHEREIN IS MUCH TALK BUT LITTLE ACTION

Mr. Marchdale threw down his cards pettishly and swore, Lord Alvaston,
sprawling in his chair, surveyed his slender legs with drowsy approval,
the Marquis of Alton yawned and Mr. Dalroyd shuffled for a new deal;
hard by the Captain and Sir Jasper diced sleepily and in the ingle Sir
Benjamin snored outright.

"Sink me!" murmured Lord Alvaston, "sink me if I've touched an ace all
the evening!"

"Aye, Dalroyd and Alton have all the luck!" exclaimed Mr. Marchdale
with youthful petulance.

"Dem'd queer thing, but I feel dooced sleepy!" yawned the Marquis.

"'S'ffect o' country air," murmured Lord Alvaston, "look at Ben."

"Aye begad, will some one be good enough to stir him up, his dem'd
snoring makes me worse----"

"Who's snoring?" demanded Sir Benjamin, sitting bolt upright, broad
awake in a moment, and straightening his wig. "Od's body, I do protest
I did but close my eyes for a moment----"

"And snored, Ben, damnably--'ffect o' country air----"

"And churning, Ben--eh, Benjamin?" suggested Mr. Dalroyd. "You've
taken up dairy-work, I understand."

Sir Benjamin reached for and filled his wine-glass and grew a little
more rubicund than usual.

"Od so, sir," said he, "'When in Rome'--od's body! 'do as Rome does.'
And we are in the country and--ah--being here 'mid rural things simple
and sweet I--hem! I say I----"

"Sn