t service, Tournier soon obtained his
parole.

"You will be disappointed some day about him I fear, major."

"Well, it may be; perhaps so--yes;" which may be regarded as an
expression of no very great confidence in the prophecy.

One day, Tournier was walking down the hill leading to Yaxley with his
now customary gloom over-shadowing his face, when he saw a horseman
approaching. The rider had been watching him for some little distance as
he came up, and just before they met pulled up his horse, and bowing,
said with a pleasant smile, "Good morning, Captain Tournier, I hope I see
you well."

"Thank you, sir," said the other politely, but with some little surprise,
"I am very well; but pardon me for asking who it is I have the pleasure
of speaking to?"

"My name is Cosin, and I live at the old house facing the church close by
where we are. So we are fellow-parishioners, _habitants de la meme
commune_, as you would say in France, I think."

Again a polite bow. "But will you excuse me for asking how you know
_me_?"

"Oh, I have heard of you from my friend, Major Kelly. I will not tell
you what he said when he described you to me, but I knew you at once from
his description; and I am very pleased to have met you."

Another bow. "He told you, I suppose, that you would know me by my sour
looks. They all tell me that, or something very similar."

"Far from it. But you would not like me to repeat compliments. Yet the
major did tell me you took your captivity too much to heart."

"That is true, I daresay. But I cannot help it."

"Then, if you will allow me, let me try and act the part of a friend and
neighbour. We are close by each other, as you see. If you will do me
the favour of calling on me at the Manor Farm whenever you may in course
of time feel disposed, I shall be delighted: only the sooner the better."

"A thousand thanks," said the captain with a faint smile, but with no
intention then of availing himself of the kind offer.

Friendship is not often formed on the instant, as Jonathan's for David,
when the soul of Jonathan was knit in a moment with the soul of David,
and "Jonathan loved him as his own soul." Albeit the two _had_ met
before.

They shook hands heartily and went their ways.

Mr. Cosin was the gentleman who had laid his whip across the saucy lout's
back at the time the French prisoners were marching into the barracks. He
was possessed of a fair competence; but loving a country