"Master, I ax your pardon." He stepped back and paused, seeming to swallow some words in his throat before he spoke again. "You're a long way more of a man than ever I gave 'ee credit to be. Twelve year I passed in your service, too; an' I take ye to witness that 'twas Cai Tamblyn an' not Scipio Johnson that knawed 'ee agen, for all the change in your faytures. Whereby you misjudged us, sir, when you left me fifty pound and that nigger a hundred an' fifty. Whereby I misjudged ye in turn, an' I ax your pardon." "No, Cai; you judged me truly enough, if severely. There was a time when I'd have fed myself on those praises that now sicken me." "An' you was happy in them days." "Yes, happy enough." "Would you have 'em back, master?" "Would I have them back?" The Major straightened himself up and stood for a moment staring out of the window. "No, Cai," he said resolutely, squaring his chin; "not for worlds." "There's one little bit of it, sir, you got to have back," said Cai; "an' that's my fifty pound." "Nonsense, man. I sha'n't hear of it." "I've a-talked it over wi' the woman, an' she's agreeable. She says 'tis the only right an' proper thing to be done." "She may be as agreeable as--as you deserve, Cai; but I tell you I don't touch a penny of it. And you may have formed your own opinion of me during twelve years of service, but in all that time I don't think you ever knew me go back on my word." "That's truth, sir," Cai admitted, scratching his head again; "and more by token, 'tis about the only thing the book has forgot to praise 'ee for." "Perhaps," said the Major, in his bitterness almost achieving a witticism, "the author felt 'twould be out of place." "But all this apart, sir, I don't see how you'll get along without money." "Make your mind easy on that score, my friend. I rather fancy that I'm provided for; but if that should prove to be a mistake, I may come to you for advice." "Marryin'?" queried Cai. "But no; with a wooden leg--you'll excuse me--" "Devil take the man! _You_ can't argue that womenkind are squeamish." Cai grinned, "You'll take on this little job, anyway, sir? I can't very well go to his Worship an' beg you off; it might set him suspectin'." "I'll take the job," said the Major, hastily. "Brayvo! But what I'd like to do"--Cai rubbed his chin reflectively--"is to get that cussed book written over agen, an' written different." "Give it time," his master answered sadly. "Maybe even that is a job that will get itself done one of these days." Cai and his bride had departed, and the Major faced the ordeal of Regatta Day with much trepidation. Heaven help him to play his part like a man!