ing lashes:

"You think so, sir?"

"Hair night-black, a chin well-determined and bravely dimpled--

"It hath been remarked before, sir!"

"Rosy lips----"

"Fie, sir, 'tis a vulgar phrase and trite. I suggest instead
rose-petals steeped in dew."

"A nose----"

"Indeed, sir?"

"Neither arched nor straight and eyes--eyes----" the Major hesitated,
stammered and came to an abrupt pause.

"And what of her eyes, sir? I have heard them called dreamy lakes,
starry pools and unfathomable deeps, ere now. What d'you make of them?"

But the Major's own eyes were lowered, his bronzed cheek showed an
unwonted flush and his sinewy fingers were fumbling with one of his
loose coat-buttons.

"Nought!" said he at last, "others methinks have described 'em better
than ever I could."

"Major d'Arcy," said the voice softer and sweeter than ever, "I grieve
to tell you your wig is more over one eye than ever. And as for your
old coat, some fine day, sir, an you chance to walk hereabouts I may
possibly trouble to show you how a woman sews a button on!"

Saying which the apparition vanished as suddenly as it had appeared.

The Major stood awhile deep-plunged in reverie, then setting the
crabtree staff beneath his arm he wended his way slowly towards the
house, limping a little more than usual as he always did when much
preoccupied.

On his way he chanced upon the Sergeant wandering somewhat aimlessly
with a hammer in his hand.

"Sergeant," said he slowly, "er--Zebedee--if any more cherries--should
happen to--er--go astray--vanish----"

"Or be stole, sir!" added the Sergeant.

"Exactly, Zeb, precisely,--if such a contingency should arise you
will--er----"

"Challenge three times, sir and then--"

"Er--no, Sergeant, no! I think, under the circumstances, Zeb, we'll
just--er--let 'em--ah--vanish, d'ye see!"

Then the Major limped slowly and serenely into the house and left the
Sergeant staring at the hammer in his hand with eyes very wide and
round.

"_Ventre bleu! Sacre bleu!_ Zookers!" said he.

CHAPTER III

WHICH TELLS HOW THE MAJOR CLIMBED A WALL

A wonderfully pleasant place was the Major's orchard, very retired and
secluded by reason of its high old walls flushing rosily through green
leaves; an orchard, this, full of ancient trees gnarled and crooked
whose writhen boughs sprawled and twisted; an orchard carpeted with
velvety turf whereon plump thrushes and blackbirds hopped and waddled,
or, perch