Close by the gates of Chavasse Grange, they met Sir Geoffry and his mother strolling forth. Mr. Duffham's hopes had not been fulfilled. Outwardly there was not much change in the baronet, certainly none for the better; inwardly there was a great deal. He _knew_ now how very certain his fate was, and that it might not be delayed for any great length of time; a few weeks, a few months: as God should will. "Lady Rachel is not well," observed Sir Geoffry to the surgeon. "You must see her, Duffham. I suppose you can't come in now?" "Yes, I can: I'm in no hurry," was the doctor's answer. "May I come too, and see the peacock, Sir Geoffry? I'll wait here, though, if Mr. Duffham thinks I ought." Of course the boy was told that the peacock would take it as a slight if he did not pay him a visit, and they all turned up the avenue. Arthur got off his pony and led it, and talked with Lady Chavasse. "Why did you get off yet?" asked Sir Geoffry, turning to him. "Lady Chavasse is walking," answered the boy, simply. It spoke volumes for his innate sense of politeness. Sir Geoffry remembered that _he_ had possessed the same when a child. "Have you heard what papa has done?" asked Arthur, putting the question generally. "It has been in all the newspapers, and he is full colonel now. Did you read it, Sir Geoffry?" "Yes, I read it, Arthur." "And the Queen's going to thank papa when he comes to England, and to make him Sir Richard. Everybody says so. Dobbs thinks papa will be made general before he dies." Dobbs was the blacksmith. They smiled at this. Not at the possibility for Colonel Layne, but at Dobbs. "And, with it all, Aunt Mary does not want me to be a soldier!" went on the boy in rather an aggrieved tone. "Richard's enough, she says. Dick gets on well at King's College: he is to go to Woolwich next. I don't see the peacock!" They had neared the house, but the gay plumaged bird, for which Arthur retained his full admiration, was nowhere in sight. Servants came forward and led the horses away. Mr. Duffham went on to see Lady Rachel: Arthur was taken into the garden-parlour by Sir Geoffry. "And so you would like to be a soldier:" he said, holding the boy before him, and looking down at his bright, happy face. "Oh, I should: very much. If papa says I'm not to be--or mamma--or Aunt Mary--if they should tell me 'No, no, you _shall not_,' why, it would be at an end, and I'd try and like something else." "Listen, Arthur," said Sir Geoffry, in a low, earnest tone. "What you are to be, and what you are not to be, lie alike in the will of God. He will direct you aright, no doubt, when the time of choice shall come----" "And that's what Aunt Mary says," interrupted the lad. "She says---- There's the peacock!"