untry calls he must obey, if he is a man.'

'A splendid spirit!' said Uncle Benjy, with much admiration on the
surface of his countenance. 'I never had it. How could it have got into
the boy?'

'From my mother's side, perhaps.'

'Perhaps so. Well, take care of yourself, nephy,' said the farmer,
waving his hand impressively. 'Take care! In these warlike times your
spirit may carry ye into the arms of the enemy; and you are the last of
the family. You should think of this, and not let your bravery carry ye
away.'

'Don't be disturbed, uncle; I'll control myself,' said Festus, betrayed
into self-complacency against his will. 'At least I'll do what I can,
but nature will out sometimes. Well, I'm off.' He began humming
'Brighton Camp,' and, promising to come again soon, retired with
assurance, each yard of his retreat adding private joyousness to his
uncle's form.

When the bulky young man had disappeared through the porter's lodge,
Uncle Benjy showed preternatural activity for one in his invalid state,
jumping up quickly without his stick, at the same time opening and
shutting his mouth quite silently like a thirsty frog, which was his way
of expressing mirth. He ran upstairs as quick as an old squirrel, and
went to a dormer window which commanded a view of the grounds beyond the
gate, and the footpath that stretched across them to the village.

'Yes, yes!' he said in a suppressed scream, dancing up and down, 'he's
after her: she've hit en!' For there appeared upon the path the figure
of Anne Garland, and, hastening on at some little distance behind her,
the swaggering shape of Festus. She became conscious of his approach,
and moved more quickly. He moved more quickly still, and overtook her.
She turned as if in answer to a call from him, and he walked on beside
her, till they were out of sight. The old man then played upon an
imaginary fiddle for about half a minute; and, suddenly discontinuing
these signs of pleasure, went downstairs again.

VII. HOW THEY TALKED IN THE PASTURES

'You often come this way?' said Festus to Anne rather before he had
overtaken her.

'I come for the newspaper and other things,' she said, perplexed by a
doubt whether he were there by accident or design.

They moved on in silence, Festus beating the grass with his switch in a
masterful way. 'Did you speak, Mis'ess Anne?' he asked.

'No,' said Anne.

'Ten thousand pardons. I thought you did. Now don't let m