The major sighed, and kept tightly hold of his brother's arm. Two or three times over he had turned rather red in the face, the flush playing to and fro as if an angry storm were arising, but he mastered himself, and held his squadron of angry words well in hand. "Now, look here, Jem," said the baronet at last, as they came in sight of The Firs, "I don't want to be hampered with you. Do go back." "My dear Jack, as an old soldier, let me tell you that it is next to impossible to make an advance without being hampered with baggage and the commissariat. You may call me which you please, but if you are going to attack the people at The Firs, you must have me on your back, so take it as calmly as you can." Sir John uttered an angry grunt, and was disposed to explode, but, by a strong effort, he got over his fit. "If you will insist upon having a finger in the pie, come on then," he cried. "Yes, I'll come on," said the major, "and I know I need say no more to you about being calm and gentlemanly. There, I won't say another syllable." In fact neither spoke a word till they had climbed up the sandy path and reached the gate at The Firs, where Sir John set the bell clanging loudly, and Eliza hurried down. Yes; master was at home, and missus and Miss Lucy, the girl hastened to reply. "I want to see Mr Alleyne," said Sir John sharply, and Eliza showed them into the drawing-room, up and down whose faded carpet Sir John walked, fuming, while the major bent down over a few pretty little water-colour sketches, evidently the work of Lucy at some idle time. Meanwhile Eliza had hurriedly made a communication to Mrs Alleyne, and terribly alarmed Lucy, who was for preventing Alleyne from meeting the brothers. "No," said Mrs Alleyne sternly, "he must see them. If he is to blame, let him frankly own it. If the fault be on their side, let them apologise to my son." The result was that at her earnest prayer Lucy was allowed to run into the observatory to her brother, to prepare him for the visitors. "Sir John--Major Day," said Alleyne, calmly. "I will come to them. No: let them be shown in here." Perhaps he felt that he would be stronger on his own ground, surrounded by his instruments, than in the chilly drawing-room, where he knew he was out of place. "But, Moray, dear, you will not be angry and passionate. You will not quarrel with Sir John." "Angry?" said Alleyne calmly. "I cannot tell. He might say things to me that will make me angry; but do not be afraid, I shall not quarrel." "You promise me that, dear?" "I promise you." Lucy threw her arms about his neck and kissed him, and then ran out of the observatory, into which Sir John and the major were introduced a few minutes later.