"Have you read that?" he asked, jerking his head towards the cutting.

"Yes, uncle, and I'm sure you must be proud of it."

"Ah, it was a great day for me! A great day! The Regent was there,
and a fine body of a man too! 'The ridgment is proud of you,' says he.
'And I'm proud of the ridgment,' say I. 'A damned good answer too!'
says he to Lord Hill, and they both bu'st out a-laughin'. But what be
you a-peepin' out o' the window for?"

"Oh, uncle, here's a regiment of soldiers coming down the street with
the band playing in front of them."

"A ridgment, eh? Where be my glasses? Lor, but I can hear the band,
as plain as plain! Here's the pioneers an' the drum-major! What be
their number, lass?" His eyes were shining and his bony yellow
fingers, like the claws of some fierce old bird, dug into her shoulder.

"They don't seem to have no number, uncle. They've something wrote on
their shoulders. Oxfordshire, I think it be."

"Ah, yes!" he growled. "I heard as they'd dropped the numbers and
given them newfangled names. There they go, by Jimini! They're young
mostly, but they hain't forgot how to march. They have the swing-aye,
I'll say that for them. They've got the swing." He gazed after them
until the last files had turned the corner and the measured tramp of
their marching had died away in the distance.

He had just regained his chair when the door opened and a gentleman
stepped in.

"Ah, Mr. Brewster! Better to-day?" he asked.

"Come in, doctor! Yes, I'm better. But there's a deal o' bubbling in
my chest. It's all them toobes. If I could but cut the phlegm, I'd be
right. Can't you give me something to cut the phlegm?"

The doctor, a grave-faced young man, put his fingers to the furrowed,
blue-corded wrist.

"You must be careful," he said. "You must take no liberties." The
thin tide of life seemed to thrill rather than to throb under his
finger.

The old man chuckled.

"I've got brother Jarge's girl to look after me now. She'll see I
don't break barracks or do what I hadn't ought to. Why, darn my skin,
I knew something was amiss!

"With what?"

"Why, with them soldiers. You saw them pass, doctor--eh? They'd
forgot their stocks. Not one on 'em had his stock on." He croaked and
chuckled for a long time over his discovery. "It wouldn't ha' done for
the Dook!" he muttered. "No, by Jimini! the Dook would ha' had a word
there."

The doctor smiled. "Well, you are doing very