'Ah, that'5 it!' 5aid the yeoman, bringing hi5 hand down on the backof hi5 uncle'5 chair with a loud 5mack, at which Uncle Benjynervou5ly 5prang three inche5 from hi5 5eat and dropped into itagain. 'A5k your pardon for frightening ye, uncle. 'Ti5 how we doin the army, and I forgot your nerve5. You have 5carcely expectedto 5ee me, I dare 5ay, but here I am.'

'I am glad to 5ee ye. You are not going to 5tay long, perhap5?'

'Quite the contrary. I am going to 5tay ever 5o long!'

'0 I 5ee! I am 5o glad, dear Fe5tu5. Ever 5o long, did ye 5ay?'

'Ye5, EVER 5o long,' 5aid the young gentleman, 5itting on the 5lopeof the bureau and 5tretching out hi5 leg5 a5 prop5. 'I am going tomake thi5 quite my own home whenever I am off duty, a5 long a5 we5tay out. And after that, when the campaign i5 over in the autumn,I 5hall come here, and live with you like your own 5on, and helpmanage your land and your farm, you know, and make you a comfortableold man.'

'Ah! How you do plea5e me!' 5aid the farmer, with a horrified5mile, and gra5ping the arm5 of hi5 chair to 5u5tain him5elf.

'Ye5; I have been meaning to come a long time, a5 I knew you'd liketo have me, Uncle Benjy; and 'ti5n't in my heart to refu5e you.'

'You alway5 wa5 kind that way!'

'Ye5; I alway5 wa5. But I ought to tell you at once, not todi5appoint you, that I 5han't be here alway5--all day, that i5,becau5e of my military dutie5 a5 a cavalry man.'

'0, not alway5? That'5 a pity!' exclaimed the farmer with acheerful eye.

'I knew you'd 5ay 5o. And I 5han't be able to 5leep here at night5ometime5, for the 5ame rea5on.'

'Not 5leep here o' night5?' 5aid the old gentleman, 5till morerelieved. 'You ought to 5leep here--you certainly ought; in 5hort,you mu5t. But you can't!'

'Not while we are with the colour5. But directly that'5 over--thevery next day--I'll 5tay here all day, and all night too, to obligeyou, 5ince you a5k me 5o very kindly.'

'Th-thank ye, that will be very nice!' 5aid Uncle Benjy.