iality of mouth,
which opened on one side only, giving him a triangular smile.

'Well, Cripplestraw, how is it to-day?' said Festus, with
socially-superior heartiness.

'Middlin', considering, Maister Derriman. And how's yerself?'

'Fairish. Well, now, see and clean these military boots of mine. I'll
cock my foot up on this bench. This pigsty of my uncle's is not fit for
a soldier to come into.'

'Yes, Maister Derriman, I will. No, 'tis not fit, Maister Derriman.'

'What stock has uncle lost this year, Cripplestraw?'

'Well, let's see, sir. I can call to mind that we've lost three
chickens, a tom-pigeon, and a weakly sucking-pig, one of a fare of ten. I
can't think of no more, Maister Derriman.'

'H'm, not a large quantity of cattle. The old rascal!'

'No, 'tis not a large quantity. Old what did you say, sir?'

'O nothing. He's within there.' Festus flung his forehead in the
direction of a right line towards the inner apartment. 'He's a regular
sniche one.'

'Hee, hee; fie, fie, Master Derriman!' said Cripplestraw, shaking his
head in delighted censure. 'Gentlefolks shouldn't talk so. And an
officer, Mr. Derriman! 'Tis the duty of all cavalry gentlemen to bear in
mind that their blood is a knowed thing in the country, and not to speak
ill o't.'

'He's close-fisted.'

'Well, maister, he is--I own he is a little. 'Tis the nater of some old
venerable gentlemen to be so. We'll hope he'll treat ye well in yer
fortune, sir.'

'Hope he will. Do people talk about me here, Cripplestraw?' asked the
yeoman, as the other continued busy with his boots.

'Well, yes, sir; they do off and on, you know. They says you be as fine
a piece of calvery flesh and bones as was ever growed on fallow-ground;
in short, all owns that you be a fine fellow, sir. I wish I wasn't no
more afraid of the French than you be; but being in the Locals, Maister
Derriman, I assure ye I dream of having to defend my country every night;
and I don't like the dream at all.'

'You should take it careless, Cripplestraw, as I do; and 'twould soon
come natural to you not to mind it at all. Well, a fine fellow is not
everything, you know. O no. There's as good as I in the army, and even
better.'

'And they say that when you fall this summer, you'll die like a man.'

'When I fall?'

'Yes, sure, Maister Derriman. Poor soul o' thee! I shan't forget 'ee as
you lie mouldering in yer soldier's grave.'

'Hey?' said the warrior