"To tell ’ee the truth, sir," he said, when Harry ordered him to make preparations for departure, "I be a-thinken o’ Katrinka. I don’t feel happy in my mind at the notion o’ her at Winton Simmary wi’out me. Why, old feyther o’ mine, ancient soul as he be, if he knows what a hand her’ve got for griddle-cakes—zooks! sir, he’ll be a-marryen her hisself, never thinken as I be more’n a boy." One October day Harry and Sherebiah embarked at Leghorn for the voyage home. Their vessel made quick sailing as far as Gibraltar, where Sir George Rooke had planted the flag of England two years before; but was beset by contrary winds in the Atlantic, beat about for days in the Bay of Biscay, and reached Southampton sadly buffeted six weeks after leaving Leghorn. The travellers lost no time in taking horse, and rode up to Winton Hall late one November evening. Harry was received with a warmth of greeting that made him glow with pleasure. Even Adèle welcomed him with more frankness than she had ever before shown him, though he detected a different constraint, a something new in her manner, that puzzled him. The evening was spent in talking over old times and the strange events that had happened since their last meeting. Mynheer Grootz, Harry learnt, had visited Winton more than once since he had installed Adèle in her property nearly a year before, and was coming over to spend Christmas with them. Godfrey Fanshawe, now Sir Godfrey, was a frequent visitor and had been the means of introducing them to many of the best people in the county, who had welcomed Adèle with open arms. Madame afterwards told Harry privately that Sir Godfrey had once more proposed to Adèle, and been finally refused. Adèle herself looked older and more womanly. She had acquired considerable fluency in English, and was fond of going about among the villagers, taking the keenest interest in ways of life and thought so novel to her. "But the dear girl is not happy," said Madame with a sigh. "No, she is not happy. I fear she is home-sick. We have sold Lindendaal and repaid Mynheer Grootz’s friend who so generously bought up that odious man’s mortgages. But Adèle was happier at Lindendaal than she is here. She has been restless ever since we came to England, and you would be surprised to know, Harry, how she throws herself lately into the details of this horrible war. The _Courant_ comes to us every day by the coach from London, and the house is littered, perfectly littered, mon ami, with maps of Italy. Decidedly she is a changed creature." "Mamma," interrupted Adèle, "don’t give Monsieur Harry a wrong idea. I am happy enough, but——" "Hé! voila!" exclaimed Madame with a little gesture. "She is happy, but——" "And what is this business that required my presence?" said Harry, to relieve the girl of her manifest embarrassment. "Oh! Adèle must explain that. It has been her affair always." "Really, Mamma, I think you should explain. You wrote to Monsieur Harry."