Mrs. Lappett came answering to the call. Her children were seen up the garden setting to one another with squared aprons, responsive to a livelier measure. 'Bless me, miss, we think it so cheerful!' cried Mrs. Lappett, and glanced at her young ones harmonious and out of mischief. 'Very well,' said Jane, always considerate for children. She had forgotten the racked Mrs. Adister. Now the hymn of Puritanical gloom-the peacemaker with Providence performing devotional exercises in black bile. The leaps of the children were dashed. A sallow two or three minutes composed their motions, and then they jumped again to the step for lively legs. The similarity to the regimental band heading soldiers on the march from Church might have struck Philip. 'I wonder when I shall see Patrick!' he said, quickened in spite of himself by the sham sounds of music to desire changes and surprises. Jane was wondering whether he could be a man still to brood tearfully over his old love. She echoed him. 'And I! Soon, I hope.' The appearance of Mrs. Adister with features which were the acutest critical summary of the discord caused toll to be paid instantly, and they beheld a flashing of white teeth and heard Italian accents. The monkey saluted militarily, but with painful suggestions of his foregone drilling in the ceremony. 'We are safe nowhere from these intrusions,' Mrs. Adister said; 'not on these hills!--and it must be a trial for the wretched men to climb them, that thing on their backs.' 'They are as accustomed to it as mountain smugglers bearing packs of contraband,' said Philip. 'Con would have argued him out of hearing before he ground a second note,' she resumed. 'I have no idea when Con returns from his unexpected visit to Ireland.' 'Within a fortnight, madam.' 'Let me believe it! You have heard from him? But you are in the air! exposed! My head makes me stupid. It is now five o'clock. The air begins to chill. Con will never forgive me if you catch a cold, and I would not incur his blame.' The eyes of Jane and Philip shot an exchange. 'Anything you command, madam,' said Philip. He looked up and breathed his heaven of fresh air. Jane pitied, she could not interpose to thwart his act of resignation. The farmer, home for tea, and a footman, took him between them, crutched, while Mrs. Adister said to Jane: 'The doctor's orders are positive:--if he is to be a man once more, he must rest his back and not use his legs for months. He was near to being a permanent cripple from that fall. My brother Edward had one like it in his youth. Soldiers are desperate creatures.' 'I think Mr. Adister had his fall when hunting, was it not?' said Jane. 'Hunting, my dear.' That was rather different from a fall on duty before the enemy, incurred by severe exhaustion after sunstroke! . . .