hild--me--helpless child!" said the Sergeant, staring after her.
"Now what I says is----"

And there being none to hush him, the Sergeant, in English, French and
Low Dutch, proceeded to "say it" forthwith.

CHAPTER VI

WHICH DESCRIBES, AMONG OTHER THINGS, A POACHER

The Major rubbed his chin with dubious finger, pushed back his wig and
taking up the letter from the desk before him, broke the seal and read
as follows:

"MY VERY DEAR UNCLE:

"Being in a somewhat low state of health and spirits--"

"Spirits!" said the Major. "Ha!"

"--induced by a too close application to my duties--"

"Hum!" quoth the Major, rubbing his chin harder than ever.

"--I purpose (subject to your permission) to inflict myself upon you--"

"The devil he does!"

"--having been ordered rest and quiet and country air."

"Hum! I wonder!" mused the Major.

"Pray spare yourself the fatigue of writing as I leave London at once
and well knowing your extreme kindness I hope to have the felicity of
greeting you within a day or so,

Your most grateful, humble and obedient nephew,

TOM."

Having read this through the Major fell to profound meditation.

"I wonder?" he mused and pulled the bell.

"Sergeant!" said he, as the door opened.

"Sir?" said the Sergeant advancing three paces and coming to attention.

"Are there any--er--strangers in the village?"

"Last time I chanced to drop into the 'George and Dragon' there was a
round dozen gentlemen a-staying there, sir."

"Young gentlemen?"

"Aye, sir, them as I ob-served was, and very fine young gents
too--almost as fine as their lackeys, sir."

"A dozen of 'em, Zebedee!"

The Major rubbed his chin again and frowned slightly.

"Then my nephew will make the thirteenth. Tell Mrs. Agatha to have a
chamber ready for him to-night."

"The Viscount a-comin' here, sir? Always thought same couldn't abide
country!"

"He hath chan&ed his mind it seems or----"

The Major paused suddenly and glanced toward the open window, for, upon
the air without was a distant clamour of voices and shouting pierced,
ever and anon, by a wild hunting yell. As the uproar grew nearer and
louder the Major rose, and crossing to the casement, beheld his
lodge-gates swung wide before an insurging crowd, a motley throng, for,
among rustic homespun and smock-frock he espied velvet coats brave with
gold and silver lace. Before this riot a tall and slender gentleman
strode waving