steal
away at midnight---alone--to-night mayhap or to-morrow night--we must
stay him."

The Sergeant stared grimly at a bold thrush that hopped upon the grass
near by.

"Do you hear, Sergeant?"

"Aye, I hear, my lady, I hear!"

"Well--say something----"

"Mam, there aren't no words as'll fit--not one!"

"Well, what can you do?"

"Pipeclay my cross-belts for one thing and then there's my
spatterdashes----"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean if he goes, my lady, I go----"

"O folly, Sergeant, folly----"

"Agreed mam, heartily, but dooty is dooty and when his honour commands,
I obey--'tis become a matter o'----"

"But he doesn't command--he means to ride without you."

"Same couldn't nowise be, my lady, consequently and therefore
notwithstanding, if he goes--I go."

"And pray what of poor Mrs. Agatha?"

At this the Sergeant's grim mouth twitched and he turned to watch the
thrush again.

"Dooty is dooty, my lady."

"Do you want to go fighting again?"

"No mam, I thought my soldiering was done, but if he goes, I----"

"And never try to stay him--you'll do nought----"

"Stay his honour the Major? My lady, if his mind's set on't, a whole
troop o' cavalry couldn't stop him--no, not even a picked company o'
the Third itself--earthquakes, fires, floods nor furies couldn't----"

"No, but I can, Sergeant, and I will!" said my lady setting her dimpled
chin resolutely. "Lord!" she exclaimed fervently, "what troublesome,
wayward children men are--and how helpless!"

"Children, my lady?"

"Aye--both of you! He so wilfully wayward and you so helpless.
Prithee go fetch me Mrs. Agatha."

The Sergeant started. "Why mam--my lady, I----" he stammered,
flushing, "'tis so early and she asleep and I--she being asleep, d'ye
see, 'twouldn't be--that is I----"

"Sergeant," sighed my lady, "bring hither the ladder like a good child.
I'll e'en wake her myself."

So the ladder was brought, the Sergeant turned his back and in the
twinkling of an eye my lady was over the wall and walking across the
dewy grass beside him; reaching the house he pointed to a latticed
casement above their heads.

"'Tis rather high, Sergeant, but a handful of gravel----"

"Gravel, my lady?"

"Gravel, child--launched into the air and truly aimed----"

"But mam----" The Sergeant glanced from the loose gravel underfoot to
the open lattice above and flushed. "Zounds mam, I--never did such a
thing in all my days----"

"Then 'tis time