s and keep them steady," he continued, apostrophising
the different portions of the military equipment, as he worked very
rapidly now in spite of Marcus' words, till the whole of the war-like
pieces were to his liking and the chest quite full, when he closed the
lid and sat upon it as if to think, with his eyes fixed upon one corner
of the place.

"There, now are you satisfied?" cried Marcus. "Fortunately, father is
reading, and he will not notice how long you have been. You've made me
horribly impatient. Now go in to him at once and get it over."

"I shall only want a little bundle and my staff," said Serge, as if to
himself. "That is mine, for I cut it in the forest and shaped and
trimmed it myself. Yes, that's all."

"Aren't you going to take the chest into father's room?" said Marcus,
quietly.

"Eh? No, my lad."

"But he told you to."

"Yes, boy, but it was after all was over, and I can't face him again."

"Then you are going off without saying good-bye to him?"

The old soldier nodded.

"And you are not going in to see him after he has sent for you to come?"

"No, boy," said the old soldier, with a sigh. "It's the only way. I'm
just going to take my bundle and my stick, and then I'm going off at
once--_alone_," he added, meaningly.

"No, you're not, Serge, for someone else can be stubborn too."

"What do you mean?" cried the man, sharply.

"What I told you. I'm coming too."

"Nay, boy, you're not; your father would stop that, and you must obey
him," cried Serge, angrily.

"No, I mustn't," said Marcus.

"What! Sons must obey their fathers."

"And soldiers must obey their officers."

"But he's not my officer now."

"Yes, he is," cried Marcus, angrily; "your officer as well as my father.
If you go, Serge, I shall go, and I don't care where it is."

"He'd never forgive you," cried the old soldier, angrily.

"Well, I should take my chance of that. You know me, Serge. When I say
I'll do a thing I do it; and I shall do this, for I don't mean to let
you go away from here alone. Now what have you got to say?"

The old soldier got up from the shut-down lid of the chest, walked to
the corner of the room, and took his crook-like staff, to which a rough
bundle was already tied, and then he stepped back to where Marcus was
seated upon the edge of the table which had so lately borne the armour
carefully spread out.

"Good-bye, Marcus, boy," he said, holding out his hand.

The lad sprang