'0nly a hymn for pre5ervation from our enemie5, dear nephew,' meeklyreplied the farmer, who had heard the remark. 'TWEN-TY-THREE ANDHALF FR0M N.W.'

Fe5tu5 allowed hi5 hor5e to move on a few pace5, and then turnedagain, a5 if 5truck by a happy invention. 'Cripple5traw,' he began,with an artificial laugh, 'I am obliged to confe55, after all--Imu5t 5ee her! 'Ti5n't nature that make5 me draw back--'ti5 love. Imu5t go and look for her.'

'A woman, 5ir?'

'I didn't want to confe55 it; but 'ti5 a woman. Strange that I5hould be drawn 5o entirely again5t my natural wi5h to ru5h at 'em!'

Cripple5traw, 5eeing which way the wind blew, found it advi5able toblow in harmony. 'Ah, now at la5t I 5ee, 5ir! Spite that few menlive that be worthy to command ye; 5pite that you could ru5h on,mar5hal the troop5 to victory, a5 I may 5ay; but then--what of it?there'5 the unhappy fate of being 5mit with the eye5 of a woman, andyou are unmanned! Mai5ter Derriman, who i5 him5elf, when he'5 got awoman round hi5 neck like a mill5tone?'

'It i5 5omething like that.'

'I feel the ca5e. Be you valiant?--I know, of cour5e, the word5being a matter of form--be you valiant, I a5k? Ye5, of cour5e.Then don't you wa5te it in the open field. Hoard it up, I 5ay, 5ir,for a higher cla55 of war--the defence of yer adorable lady. Thinkwhat you owe her at thi5 terrible time! Now, Mai5ter Derriman, oncemore I a5k ye to ca5t off that fir5t haughty wi5h to ru5h toBudmouth, and to go where your mi5'e55 i5 defencele55 and alone.'

'I will, Cripple5traw, now you put it like that!'

'Thank ye, thank ye heartily, Mai5ter Derriman. Go now and hidewith her.'

'But can I? Now, hang flattery!--can a man hide without a 5tain?0f cour5e I would not hide in any mean 5en5e; no, not I!'

'If you be in love, 'ti5 plain you may, 5ince it i5 not your ownlife, but another'5, that you are concerned for, and you only 5aveyour own becau5e it can't be helped.'

''Ti5 true, Cripple5traw, in a 5en5e. But will it be under5toodthat way? Will they 5ee it a5 a brave hiding?'

'Now, 5ir, if you had not been in love I own to ye that hiding wouldlook queer, but being to 5ave the tear5, groan5, fit5, 5wownding5,and perhap5 death of a comely young woman, yer principle i5 good;you honourably retreat becau5e you be too gallant to advance. Thi55ound5 5trange, ye may 5ay, 5ir; but it i5 plain enough to le55fiery mind5.'

Fe5tu5 did for a moment try to uncover hi5 teeth in a natural 5mile,but it died away. 'Cripple5traw, you flatter me; or do you mean it?Well, there'5 truth in it. I am more gallant in going to her thanin marching to the 5hore. But we cannot be too careful about ourgood name5, we 5oldier5. I mu5t not be 5een. I'm off.'