"I don't know yet, boy. Something will happen, I daresay; for we never
know what's going to take place to-morrow, and I shall leave all that."

The man ceased speaking, and began almost caressingly to straighten and
arrange the various pieces of military accoutrement that he had been
burnishing, while Marcus sat leaning forward with his elbows on his
knees, watching him sadly.

"I don't like it, Serge," he said at last.

"Nay, boy, and I don't like it," replied the man. "I said just now we
never know what is going to take place to-morrow. Who would have
thought yesterday that things could have been like this to-day? But
here they are. Hah!" he cried passionately. "I wish I hadn't shrunk
away."

"Shrunk away!" cried Marcus. "Why, you are bigger and stouter than ever
you were."

"Pah!" ejaculated the man, angrily. "I don't mean that. I mean shrunk
away as I did just now when you made that thrust at me with the sword."

"What!" cried Marcus. "Why, I should have killed you. That sword point
is so horribly sharp. You don't know what a shudder ran through me when
I saw what I had nearly done."

"Yes, you would have killed me, boy, and that's what I wish you had
done."

"Serge, do you know what you are talking about?" cried Marcus. "Are you
going mad?"

"Oh yes, I know what I'm talking about, and perhaps I am going mad.
What else can you expect of a poor fellow who, all at once, finds
himself dishonoured and disgraced?"

"You are not. I tell you I don't believe that my father will ever say
another word when all the things are put away."

"Yes, because you don't know him, boy. There, it's no use to talk. I
have made up my mind to go."

"What nonsense!" said Marcus. "When my father as good as said he was
going to look over all the past."

"Ah, but that won't do for me, boy. I am dishonoured and disgraced, and
I can never hold up my head again."

"Oh, Serge, this comes hard on me," cried the boy, passionately.

"Nay, boy; it's all on my unfortunate head."

"It isn't, Serge," cried Marcus, "for, as I told father, it was all my
doing. It was my stupid vanity and pride. I took it into my head that
I wanted to be a soldier the same as father and you had been, and it has
brought all this down upon you. I shall never forgive myself as long as
I live."

"Nay, but you will, boy, when I'm gone and forgotten."

"Gone and forgotten!" cried Marcus, angrily. "You are not going, and
you couldn't be