r I'd git in six
mumfs er schoolin'. Hit makes me feel kind er smaht all ober, but not
smaht enough foh ter ekal you, Miss Trypheeny, ner yoh pah. Ain't he
jest a smaht man, foolin' me on Typernosties and Gasternickle, words I
nevah knowed afoah, yah! yah! yah!"

A new game was in progress, when a tap came to the inside door, and,
immediately thereafter, a figure in a dressing gown appeared, partly
thrust into the half-opened entrance. "Do you know Tryphena," said a
pretty voice, "that it is very late, long past midnight, and you two
girls have to be up by six o'clock at the latest! Take Sarah with you,
and go to bed. Toner, you know Timotheus' room, and had better get some
rest, which I am sure you need." As the four parties addressed somewhat
sheepishly departed, Mrs. Carmichael turned to the remaining card
players, who were standing, corporal Rigby at military attention, and
said, with a somewhat tremulous accent: "There's a large fire out in the
Lake Settlement direction, but I cannot bear to awaken Mr. Carruthers or
the other two gentlemen, for he is very tired, and they are much older
and require rest also. Perhaps, Maguffin, you will be kind enough to
saddle a horse quietly, and find out where it is and see that my father
and Mr. Coristine are safe."

"I'se ony too pleased ter obey yoh commandemens, marm, wif percision an'
dispatches," answered the coloured gentleman, hasting stablewards.

"As constable, ma'am, if I may be allowed to speak," said Corporal
Rigby, saluting for the second time, "as constable, it is my duty to be
present at all township fires, for the purpose of keeping order and
directing operations. I shall, therefore, with your permission, ma'am,
respectfully take my leave."

"It is a long way, constable, and you and I are not so young as we once
were--"

"Pardon an old soldier's interruption, ma'am, but you are as young as
ever you were, the youngest married lady I know."

"Thank you, corporal! What I meant to say was that you had better get
Maguffin to saddle a horse for you, as the distance is great."

"You are very good, ma'am, but I never served in the cavalry. I belonged
to Her Majesty's Foot Guards, ma'am, and could not possibly insult the
memory of my old comrades lying in Crimean graves, by putting the legs,
that a merciful Providence furnished me to march with, across the back
of a horse. Had I even served in the Artillery or in the Engineers, I
might have been able to comply wit