The only difference between him and the Captain was, that unlike the
latter, he did not frankly confess that he lived to eat, and that
his belly was his god. I began to feel a most hearty contempt for
this grand-uncle of mine, and more especially when I reflected on
the conversation we had had during our morning's walk.

CHAPTER XXII.

Dinner over, I did not hesitate about leaving the gentlemen
to themselves. I declined a cigar, and followed Francis to the
drawing-room. Rolf soon joined us, and demanded humbly--

"What says my Major--do I not deserve a word of praise?"

"Yes, certainly," she replied, but her face clouded.

Guessing the reason, I whispered to the Captain--

"Don't you perceive you annoy my cousin by always addressing her by
that hateful nickname? Can't you see by her elegant dress she desires
to appear herself--Miss Mordaunt?"

"Indeed I am a blockhead not to pay better attention; but the truth
is, Jonker--excuse me, Freule--the custom is such an inveterate one."

"You and I must break with old customs, Captain," she said softly,
but with emphasis, "for we have been on the wrong track--have we
not, Jonker?"

"May I say one word," interposed the Captain, "before the Freule and
the Jonker begin to philosophise; should the General come in I cannot
say it. You know the day after to-morrow is the General's seventy-sixth
birthday. I had intended the celebration to be a brilliant affair;
but when I hear of wrong tracks, changes, and such farrago, I begin
to fear all my plans will fall through."

"Oh! was that the reason you brought in all those dainties this
morning?"

"Yes, and I thought the Jonker would be an agreeable addition to
our party."

"I give you full leave to arrange it all in your own way,
Rolf. Grandfather must be feted."

"Hurrah! of course!" he cried merrily; and off he went to make his
arrangements, carefully shutting the folding-doors behind him so as
to isolate us from the dining-room.

I was just going to compliment Francis on the change in her style of
dressing, when she complained of the closeness of the room, and skipped
off into the garden. Left thus to my own resources, I lit a cigar
and walked out in front of the house, where I soon espied my lady;
and when I joined her she proposed to walk as far as the ruin to see
the sun set. Instead of taking the regular path, Francis preferred
making direct for the object in view; and we had to trample through