e help you up, and then I can drive this lady in
my chaise and keep close by and have an eye to my patient as we go."

Anna Deane needed no assistance. She sprang up beside the driver, while
her aunt was helped into the chaise. Then a thought struck her, and,
taking out her purse, she emptied it into her hand, and beckoned to
Joey, who came up, followed by Smiler, whose face had never looked so
pleasantly full of admiration before.

"Will you pay all the men? Share it, please," she whispered. "Thank
you, thank you so very much for what you've all done!"

The party of labourers followed till they had passed the little roadside
inn, where they stopped and stood watching till chaise and waggonette
had passed a corner of the road.

Then Joey turned to his companions, and opened his hand to count over
the coins.

"There's four-and-twenty, Smiler," he said.

"And there's eight on us," said Smiler.

"And eight into twenty-four goes three times," said the man who left
school last, amidst a murmur of satisfaction.

"Eight shillin's apiece," said Smiler.

"Get along with you," cried Joey. "Three shillin's apiece. Hands out,
boys."

Seven hard palms were extended to him instantly, the coins counted into
them, and Joey looked round.

"Before we can get to work again, boys, it'll be nigh time to leave
off."

"Ay," was chorussed.

"There's a drop of yale nigh at hand, we're all dry and we've yearned
it, so I says let's have one drink and then talk about it as we goes
back."

"And so says all you," cried Smiler.

But they did not in words, only in acts; so that the aphides left on the
hops enjoyed a few more leaves of life.

CHAPTER FORTY.

JERRY LETS OUT THE CAT.

That night, after the mess dinner, Jerry, when seeing about the coffee
for his master, had a note given to him to take into the room, and this
he handed to the lieutenant, who flushed a little as he recognised the
hand, and, disregarding the smiles of those nearest to him, he read,
hastily written:--

"Pray come at once! Aunt and I were out driving, and we found poor
Smithson. We brought him here. He is wounded, and dying. I know no
more."

"Anna."

The lieutenant sprang up excitedly, and strode to the colonel's side,
giving him the note to read.

"Poor boy!" cried the colonel. "Then he did not desert. I'm glad of
that. Doctor, Smithson is found. He is, it seems, badly hurt."

"Bless my soul!" cried the doctor.

"Yes. Wi