y his regret escaped him in the half-muttered
words--

"I shall never shoot again."

"There are things even better worth doing in life," said John,
sympathetically.

"Colonel Hewel wouldn't give in to that," said Peter.

"He's rather a one-idea'd man," John agreed. "But if you asked him
whether he'd sacrifice all the sport he's ever likely to enjoy, for
one chance to distinguish himself in action--why, you're a soldier,
and you know best what he'd say."

Peter's brow cleared. "You've got a knack," he said, almost
graciously, "of putting a fellow in a good humour with himself, Cousin
John."

"I generally find it easier to be in a good humour with myself than
with other people," said John, whimsically. "One expects so little
from one's self, that one is scarcely ever disappointed; and so
much from other people, that nothing they can do comes up to one's
expectations."

"I don't know about that," said Peter, bluntly. "Old Crawley says
_you_ take it out of yourself like anything. Since I came back this
time, he's been holding forth to me about all you've done for me and
the estate, and all that. I didn't know my father had left things in
such a mess. And that was a smart thing you did about buying in the
farm, and settling the dispute with the Crown, which my father used to
be so worried over. I see I've got a good bit to thank you for, Cousin
John. I--I'm no end grateful, and all that."

"All right," said John. "Don't bother to make speeches, old boy."

"I must say one thing, though," said Peter, awkwardly. "I was against
all the changes, and thought they might have been left till I came
home; but I didn't realize it was to be now or never, as old Crawley
puts it, and that I'm not to have the right to touch my capital when I
come of age."

"The whole arrangement was rather an unusual one; but everything's
worked out all right, and, as far as the estate goes, you'll find it
in pretty fair order to start upon, and values increased," said John,
quietly. "But Crawley has the whole thing at his fingers' ends, and
the interest of the place thoroughly at heart. You couldn't have a
better adviser."

"He's well enough," said Peter, somewhat ungraciously.

"Shall we take a turn up and down?" said John. He lighted a fresh
cigarette. "There is a chill feeling in the air, though it is such a
lovely morning."

"It will be warmer when the sun has conquered the mist," said Peter,
with a slight shiver.

The white dew o