doubt
that she was a clever woman, and it was equally beyond doubt that she
completely managed her husband. She was much his superior in education,
and possessing far greater abilities could twist him round her little
finger, although she did it so cleverly that he never suspected that he
was the victim of such an operation.

A month previous to the opening of the story she had been confined of a
boy, and two days later Mrs. Clinton, the wife of the captain of her
husband's company, also became a mother. Before the week was over Mrs.
Clinton was taken dangerously ill, and as it was impossible for her to
nurse her child, the surgeon of the regiment recommended that it should
be given into the charge of the sergeant's wife, as she, being a strong
and healthy young woman, could very well nurse it as well as her own. It
was a month after this that Sergeant Humphreys, returning to his
quarters, found his wife sitting by the side of the bed on which the two
infants were asleep.

"They are as alike as two peas," he said as he looked at them. "I am
sure I wonder, Jane, that you know which is which!"

Mrs. Humphreys' answer did not seem to the point. "Captain Clinton is a
rich man, is he not, John?"

"Yes; they say he came into a grand estate two years ago when his father
died, and that like enough he will leave the regiment when it goes home
next year."

"Then one of those babies will be a rich man, and the other--" and she
stopped.

"The other will, I hope, be a non-commissioned officer in the 30th Foot
one of these days," the sergeant said. Jane looked up at her husband.
There was no touch of envy or discontent in his voice. She was about to
speak but checked herself.

"Which is yours, John?" she asked a moment later, returning to his first
remark.

"I am sure I could not tell," he said with a laugh. "Babies are mostly
pretty much alike, and as these two are just the same age, and just the
same size, and have both got gray eyes and light coloured hair--if you
can call it hair,--and no noses to speak of, I don't see a pin's point
of difference."

A month later a small party were assembled in Captain Clinton's
bungalow. Mrs. Humphreys was standing with a baby in each arm. Mrs.
Clinton was lying upon a sofa crying bitterly. Captain Clinton was
walking up and down the room, hot and angry. The surgeon of the regiment
was standing grave and sympathetic by Mrs. Clinton. Sergeant Humphreys
was in the attitude of attenti