ng my age, Tom--

"A man is as old as he looks, sir, and you look no older than
thirty-one."

The Major shook his head.

"I could ha' wished myself a little more sombre-clad----"

"Sambre sir--O Gad support me, sambre? Permit me to say, sir, with the
greatest deference in the world--tush t'you, sir! Why must ye pine to
be sambre? You ain't a parson nor a Quaker, nor yet a funeral! With
all due respect, sir--pish! You are as sober clad as any
self-respecting gentleman could desire."

"D'ye think so, Tom?"

"Sure of it, sir, 'pon my honour!"

"Hum!" said the Major still a little dubious and reaching for his
gold-laced hat, was in the act of setting it on his head when a cry
from the Viscount arrested him.

"Gad love me, sir, what are you about with your hat?"

"I am about to put it on, sure, nephew."

"O Lard, sir, never do so, I beg!"

"In heaven's name why not?"

"Because 'tis never done sir. Fie, 'tis a curst barbarian act never
committed by the 'ton'!"

"But damme, Tom, what are hats for?"

"To show off one's hand sir, to fan one's self gracefully, to be borne
negligently 'neath the arm, to point a remark or lend force to an
epigram, to woo and make love with, to offend and insult with, 'tis for
a thousand and one things, sir, but never O never to put on one's
head--'tis a practice unmodish, reprehensible and altogether damnable!"

"Tom," said the Major, looking a little dazed, "now look'ee, Tom, I'm
no town gallant nor ever shall be, to me a hat is a hat, and as such I
shall use it----"

"But reflect sir, consider how it will discommode your peruke."

"Tom, well-nigh all my days I have worn a uniform and consequently any
other garments feel strange on me--these cursedly so. But since I've
bought 'em, I'll wear 'em my own way. And now, since 'tis a fine
evening, I'll walk abroad and try to get a little used to 'em."

Saying which the Major clapped on his hat a little defiantly and strode
out of the room.

In the wide hall he met Mrs. Agatha and conscious of her glance of
surprised approval, felt himself flushing as he acknowledged her
curtsey; thereafter on his way out he stepped aside almost stealthily
to avoid one of the neat housemaids; even when out in the air he still
felt himself a mark for eyes that peeped unseen and hastened his steps
accordingly.

And now, as luck would have it, he came upon the Sergeant busied at one
of the yew hedges with a pair of shears; checking a momen