imaginary wants and desires which we ought manfully to resist."

The General bit his lips, shut his eyes, and sank back in his chair, as
if he had received a blow from a club; but unwilling to acknowledge a
defeat, after a few seconds he raised himself up and said to Francis--

"I allow that you far surpass me in bearing privations; but it would
be well for you to learn a little self-restraint. At my time of life
it is hard to bear reproaches. I cannot change my way of living,
though I confess you deny yourself much for my sake."

"Come, come, grandfather, you know my words sound harsher than I
mean them; but you cannot expect me to approve what angers me--such
self-restraint I shall never learn."

"That's unfortunate," replied the General in a bitter tone; "for
what will Leopold think of us if he must listen to such reproaches
at every turn."

"He will think, uncle, that he is on a visit to a family which is
above dissembling to deceive him, and he will esteem such frankness
as an honour and a privilege----"

"Well! that's an advantage you'll enjoy to your heart's content,
Jonker, if you stay here long," interrupted the Captain, who had again
entered the room. "Our Major has the praiseworthy custom of speaking
her mind without respect of persons; and when she's displeased, it is
'parade and proceed to execution,' as we say in the courts-martial."

"Had pardons not been heard of, Captain," retorted Francis, half in
jest, half in earnest, "you would have been dismissed the service
long ere this."

"That only proves my long-suffering and patience, Miss Major; you know
I permit you to treat me like a corporal would a raw recruit. I would
not bear from the Prince Field-Marshal what I have borne from you."

"Captain," said the General, who had been listening nervously,
"Captain, I thought I had given you to understand that I desired to
be en famille."

"And I, General, not guessing the conversation could be so entertaining
for you, came to propose our usual remedy against low spirits: a game
at piquet."

"Thank you, Captain, no cards this afternoon; I am anxious to talk
to my nephew."

CHAPTER XIII.

Francis ordered Rolf off in search of her riding-whip which she had
lost on the heath in the morning, making sure this would keep him
out of the way for a time.

"It's no easy matter to find such a thing in the sand," he growled,
as he limped off.

"But, you know, I want it very much, and if yo