pon the Major opened
sleepy eyes.

"Certainly, Zeb!" said he. "Egad you're in the right on't--er--I fear
my attention was wandering as 'twere--though I listen very well with my
eyes shut!"

The Sergeant lowered the manuscript to stare, round-eyed:

"Anan, sir?" he enquired.

"Go on again, Zeb--this chapter on Salient Angles must be clear and
concise as possible. Proceed, Zebedee--we'd got as far as the siege of
Aeth, I think." Saying which, the Major closed his eyes again and
Sergeant Zebedee, nothing loth, went on:

"'--the most open by bastions, the others, and those of at least ninety
degrees, by demi----'"

Once again a small missile flew with unerring aim, struck the Major on
the chin and rebounded on to the desk.

The Major started, rubbed his eyes and sat up.

"What now, Zeb?" he enquired. The Sergeant, lowering the manuscript
again, stared harder than ever.

"Sir?" he enquired.

"Something--er--touched me I think Zeb!"

"Touched you, sir! Zounds, here's but you and me, your honour!"

"Strange!" mused the Major, rubbing his chin, "very strange, Zeb, I
must ha' dreamed it, though I distinctly felt----" He leaned forward
suddenly and picked up from the desk before him a half-opened moss
rosebud. With this in his fingers he turned towards the open casement
behind the Sergeant's chair and beheld a face, all roguish witchery and
laughter, and two white hands held out to him.

"Help me in, John--help me in!" she commanded. In an instant the Major
was across the room, had clasped those slender hands and my lady,
mounting the low sill, stood a moment framed in the heavy moulding of
the long window, a very picture of vigorous young womanhood; then
leaping lightly down with flashing vision of dainty feet and ankles,
she crossed to where the Sergeant stood, very erect and upright, and
setting her two hands upon his broad shoulders, smiled up at him
radiant-eyed.

"Sergeant Zebedee," said she, "dear Sergeant Zebedee you must be vastly
strong to have carried my brother so far. Stoop down!"

Wondering, the Sergeant obeyed and immediately felt the pressure of two
warm, soft lips on his smooth-shaven cheek; whereupon he flushed,
blinked and stood at attention. "Did you like it, Sergeant?" she
enquired.

"My lady, all I can say is--mam I--I did, your ladyship."

"Then stoop again, Sergeant!" With an apologetic glance towards the
Major he obeyed and my lady kissed his other cheek. Then she turned