us curly wig and his
battered face. He went on with his task.

"I wonder, Marigold," said I, "how you put up with me."

He did not reply until he had placed the neatly arranged tray across my
body.

"I've never heard, sir," said he, "as how a man couldn't put up with
his blessings."

A bit of sole was on my fork and I was about to convey it to my mouth,
but there came a sudden lump in my throat and I put the fork down.

"But what about the curses?"

A horrible contortion of the face and a guttural rumble indicated
amusement on the part of Marigold. I stared, very serious, having been
profoundly touched.

"What are you laughing at?" I asked.

The idiot's merriment increased in vehemence. He said: "You're too
funny, sir," and just bolted, in a manner unbecoming not only to a
sergeant, but even to a butler.

As I mused on this unprecedented occurrence, I made a discovery,--that
of Sergeant Marigold's sense of humour. To that sense of humour my
upbraidings, often, I must confess, couched in picturesque and
figurative terms so as not too greatly to hurt his feelings, had made
constant appeal for the past fifteen years. Hitherto he had hidden all
signs of humorous titillation behind his impassive mask. To-night, a
spark of sentiment had been the match to explode the mine of his mirth.
It was a serious position. Here had I been wasting on him half a
lifetime's choicest objurgations. What was I to do in the future to
consolidate my authority?

I never enjoyed a fried sole and a glass of champagne more in my life.

He came in later to remove the tray, as wooden as ever.

"Mrs. Connor called a little while ago, sir."

"Why didn't you ask her to come in to see me?"

"Doctor's orders, sir."

After the sole and champagne, I felt much better. I should have
welcomed my dear Betty with delight. That, at any rate, was my first
impulsive thought.

"Confound the doctor!" I cried. And I was going to confound Marigold,
too, but I caught his steady luminous eye. What was the use of any
anathema when he would only take it away, as a dog does a bone, and
enjoy it in a solitary corner? I recovered myself.

"Well?" said I, with dignity. "Did Mrs. Connor leave any message?"

"I was to give you her compliments, sir, and say she was sorry you were
so unwell and she was shocked to hear of Colonel Boyce's sad
affliction."

This was sheer orderly room. Such an expression as "sad affliction"
never passed Betty's lips. I, howev