hief I am loth to punish in my school, and that's the music that may
be inopportune, even when it takes the poor form of a shrill with an
ashen stick made by the performer during the morning's sacred exercise."

The whistle had brought two or three of the company back to see what old
Brooks was doing, and among them was the Paymaster. He was redder in the
face than ever, and his wig was almost off his head, it was so slewed
aside.

"Giving the General a lesson?" he asked with some show at geniality. He
leaned a hand upon a desk, and remembered that just on that corner he
leaned on he had placed many a shilling as Candlemas and Han'sel Monday
offerings when he was a schoolboy, before the farming, before the army
and India, and those long years at home on the upper flat of the house
up the street where Miss Mary sat the lee-lone homester among her
wanderers returned.

"I was but showing him the handiwork of his daughter Miss Nan," said
Old Brooks pleasantly. "A somewhat healthy and boisterous lady, I assure
you."

"Oh! I have heard of her," said the Paymaster, taking a pinch of
maccabaw from his pocket, and leisurely lifting it to his nostril with
the indifference of one with little interest in the subject. There was
insult in the contempt of the action. The General saw it and flamed very
hotly.

"And you have heard of a very handsome little lady," said he,
"remarkably like her handsome mother, and a very good large-hearted
daughter."

The Paymaster had an unpleasant little laugh that when he chose he could
use with the sting of a whip though accompanied by never a word. He
flicked the surplus of his snuff from his stock and gave this annoying
little laugh, but he did not allow it to go unaccompanied, for he had
overheard the General's speech to Mr. Spencer.

"No doubt she's all you say or think," said he dryly, "I'm sure I'm no
judge, but there's a rumour abroad that she's a big handful. A want of
discipline perhaps, no more than that--"

"You know the old saying, Captain," said the General, "bachelors' bairns
are aye well trained."

The Paymaster started in a temper, and "I have a son," said he,
"and----"

The General smiled with meaning.

"----A son; at least I'll make him that, and I'll show you something of
training!"

Turner smiled anew, with a mock little bow and a wave of the fingers, a
trick picked up abroad and maddening in its influence on a man with the
feeling that it meant he was too small t