ful failure as a--a
county squire and man o' leisure. This _otium cum dignitate_ is not
for me so I'm done with it, Zeb, I'm done with it."

"Meaning how, sir, which and what, your honour?"

"Meaning that Nature made me a man of limitations, Zeb. I am a fair
enough soldier but--in--in certain--other ways as 'twere I am woefully
lacking. I'm a soldier now and always, Zeb, so a soldier I must live
and a soldier, pray God, I'll die. Last night you were in a mind to
follow me to the wars--doth the desire still hold?"

"Aye sir. Dooty is dooty. Where you go--I go."

"So be it, Zeb. We will ride to-morrow for Dover at five o' the clock."

"Very good, sir."

"Are the servants all abed?"

"Aye, sir, and so's the Colonel."

"Then lock up and go you likewise, I have certain writings to make.
And mark this, Zebedee, 'tis better to die a man of limitations than to
live on smug and assured the sport of coquette Fortune as--as 'twere
and so forth. D'ye get me, Zeb?"

"No sir, I don't."

"Egad, 'tis none surprising Zeb," said the Major ruefully, "I express
myself very ill, but I know what I mean. Good-night, Zeb--get ye to
bed."

Reaching the library the Major crossed to the hearth and sinking down
in a chair beside the fire, sat awhile staring into the fire, lost in
wistful thought. At length he arose and taking one of the candles
opened the door of that small, bare chamber he called his study; opened
the door and stood there wide-eyed and with the heavy silver
candlestick shaking in his grasp.

She sat crouched down in his great elbow-chair, fast asleep. And she
was really asleep, there was no coquettish shamming about it since
coquetry does not admit of snoring and my lady snored distinctly; true,
it was a very small and quite inoffensive snore, induced by her
somewhat unwonted posture, but a snore it was beyond all doubt.

The Major rid himself of the candle and closing the door softly behind
him leaned there watching her.

She half sat, half lay, lovely head adroop upon her shoulder, one
slender foot just kissing the floor, the other hidden beneath her
petticoats; and as she lay thus in the soft abandonment of sleep he
could not help but be struck anew by the compelling beauty of her: the
proud swell of her bosom that rose and fell with her gentle breathing,
the curves of hip and rounded limbs, the soft, white column of her
throat. All this he saw and, because she lay so defenceless in her
slumber,