tponed a military manoeuvre on finding it
likely to clash with the Millennium, an event so incalculable and
conceivably so disconcerting to the best-laid plans: and, indeed, for
something like forty-eight hours the Major was in two minds about
writing to Captain Pond and hinting at a postponement.

But in the end he characteristically chose the stronger line.
I believe the handsome language of Captain Pond's last letter decided
him. His was no cheap imitation of the grand manner. Magnificently,
spaciously--too spaciously, perhaps, considering the width of our
streets--it enshrined a real conception of Man's proper dignity.
Here was an obligation in which honour met and competed with
politeness: and he must fulfil it though the heavens fell. Moreover,
he could not but be aware, during the month of April, that the town
had its eye on him, hoping for a sign. He and the Vicar and Mr.
Hansombody had bound each other to secrecy; nevertheless some inkling
of the secret had leaked out. The daily current of gossip in the
streets no longer kept its cheerful, equable flow. Citizens avoided
each other's eyes, and talked either in hushed voices or with an
almost febrile vehemence on any subject but that which lay closest to
their thoughts.

But never did our Mayor display such strength, such unmistakable
greatness, as during this, the last month--alas!--fate granted us to
possess him. Men eyed him on his daily walk, but he for his part
eyed the weather: and the weather continued remarkably fine for the
time of year.

So warm, so still, indeed, were the evenings, that in the third week
of April he began to take his dessert, after dinner, out of doors on
the terrace overlooking the harbour; and would sit and smoke there,
alone with a book, until the shadows gathered and it grew too dark to
read print.

"And you may tell Scipio to bring me out a bottle of the green-sealed
Madeira," he commanded, on the evening of the twentieth.

"The green-sealed Madeira?" echoed Miss Marty. "You know, of course,
that there is but a dozen or so left?"

"A dozen precisely; and to-day is the twentieth. That leaves"--the
Major drummed with his fingers on the mahogany--"a bottle a night and
one over. That last one I reserve to drink on the evening of May-day
if all goes well. One must risk something."

"Solomon!"

"Eh?" The Major looked up in surprise. Although a kinswoman, Miss
Marty had never before dared to address him by his Chri