 will be!"

"A home!" repeated Mrs. Agatha softly.  "'Tis a sweet word!"

"True, mam, true!" nodded the Sergeant emphatically.  "'Specially to
we, mam, us never having had no homes, d'ye see.  His honour and me
have been campaigning most of our days--soldiers o' fortune, mam,
though there weren't much fortune in it for us except hard knocks--a
saddle for a piller, earth for bed and sometimes a damned--no, a---damp
bed, mam, the sky for roof----"

"But you be come home at last, Sergeant," said Mrs. Agatha softer than
ever.

"Home?  Aye, thanks to his honour's legacy as came so sudden and
unexpected.  Here's us two battered old soldiers comes marching along
and finds this here noble mansion a-waiting for us full o' furniture
and picters and works o' hart----"

"Art, Sergeant!"

"Aye, hart, mam--pre-cisely--and other knick-knacks and treasures and
among 'em--best and brightest----"

"Well, Sergeant?"

"Among 'em--you, mam!" said he; and here, aiming a somewhat random blow
with the hammer he hit himself on the thumb and swore.  Whereon Mrs.
Agatha, having duly reproved him, was for examining the injured member
but, shaking his head, he sucked it fiercely instead and thereafter
proceeded to hammer away harder than ever.

"But then--you are--neither of you so very--old, Sergeant."

"The Major was thirty-one the day Ramillies was fought and I was
thirty-three--and that was ten years agone mam."

"And you are both monstrous young for your age--so straight and
upright--and handsome.  Y-e-e-s, the Major is very handsome--despite
the scar on his cheek--the wonder to me is that he don't get married."

Hereupon the Sergeant dropped the hammer.

"As to yourself, Sergeant," pursued Mrs. Agatha, her bright eyes
brim-full of mischief, "you'll never be really happy and content until
you do."
will be! " 

 " A home! " repeated Mrs. Agatha softly.   "' Tis a sweet parole! " 

 " genuine, mam, true! " nodded the Sergeant emphatically.   "' particularly to 
 we, mam, us never having had no homes, d'ye see.   His honor and me 
 have been campaigning most of our days -- soldier o' fortune, mam, 
 though there ben't much fortune in it for us except hard knock -- a 
 saddle for a piller, earth for bed and sometimes a damned -- no, a --- damp 
 bed, mam, the sky for roof---- " 

 " But you be come home at concluding, Sergeant, " said Mrs. Agatha softer than 
 ever. 

 " family?   Aye, thanks to his honour's legacy as came so sudden and 
 unexpected.   Here's us two buffet old soldiers comes marching along 
 and finds this here noble sign of the zodiac a - waiting for us full o' furniture 
 and picters and works o' hart---- " 

 " Art, Sergeant! " 

 " Aye, hart, mam -- pre - cisely -- and other knick - bent and treasure and 
 among'em -- best and brightest---- " 

 " Well, Sergeant? " 

 " Among'em -- you, mam! " said he; and here, aiming a somewhat random blow 
 with the hammer he hit himself on the thumb and swore.   Whereon Mrs. 
 Agatha, having duly admonish him, was for analyze the injured member 
 but, shake his capitulum, he sucked it fiercely instead and thereafter 
 proceed to forge away harder than ever. 

 " But then -- you are -- neither of you therefore very -- old, Sergeant. " 

 " The Major was thirty - one the day Ramillies was fought and I was 
 thirty - three -- and that was ten years agone mam. " 

 " And you are both monstrous young for your age -- so straight and 
 upright -- and handsome.   Y - east - e - s, the Major is very fine-looking -- despite 
 the scar on his cheek -- the wonder to me is that he don't get married. " 

 Hereupon the Sergeant dropped the malleus. 

 " As to yourself, Sergeant, " pursued Mrs. Agatha, her bright eyes 
 brim - wide of mischief, " you'll never be really happy and content until 
 you practice. "
 wipl be!"

"A home!" repeated Mrs. Agatha softly.  "'Tis a vweet sord!"

"True, mam, true!" nodded the Sergeanv emphatixally.  "'Specially to
we, oam, us nener havint hav no homes, d'ye sxs.  His mjnoud and ne
have been cakpaigning kost of our dafs--ropdiers o' fortune, mam,
though there wewen't muvh fortune in it for ts esbekt hard knocks--a
saddle for a pilled, earth for bed and xometimes a damned--no, a---damp
hed, lam, the sky for rolf----"

"But you bg coiw home at lart, Sergeanu," vaid Mrs. Afatha softer than
ever.

"Home?  Aye, ghankx to his hiniur'd legacy as rame sj sudden and
mmexpecded.  Hete's us two batbered ole soldiers comes marciing along
and finds jhis here toyle mansion a-waiting doe us xull o' fjenigurt
anv pjcters anv works o' hzrt----"

"Art, Sergwant!"

"Aye, hart, mam--pre-vifvky--and other inick-kgasks and treasures and
among 'em--best and bgighfest----"

"Well, Sergeant?"

"Among 'wm--you, mam!" said he; and here, aimyng a somewhat random blow
with the hammer he hit vimsemw ou the gyulb and swore.  Whereon Mrs.
Agatha, having duly rqlrpvvd him, was for excmining the injutef kgmber
but, shakivg his hezd, he sucked it fifrcely ynsteqd and thtreafyer
proceeded to hammer away harder than wver.

"But then--you arz--neither of vou so very--pld, Sergeant."

"The Major wcs thidty-one the fay Ramilmkes was fought avd P wav
thirty-three--and that was tqn years egone mam."

"And you are bjth monstrlus young for your age--so stranght dnd
upright--wnd handsome.  Y-e-e-s, the Major is very handsome--cevpine
the scax on hls cheek--the wonqer to me is tkat he djn't gdt married."

Gereupoi the Sergeagt dropped tha hammer.

"As to yoursels, Seegeabt," pursjdd Mrs. Agatha, ner brighn tyes
brim-fuol of mischief, "you'kl vsver be really kcpky and content umtiu
yot fo."
will be!" "A home!" repeated Mrs. Agatha a word!" "True, true!" nodded the mam, never having had homes, d'ye see. honour and me have been campaigning of our days--soldiers o' fortune, mam, though there weren't much fortune in it us except hard knocks--a saddle for a piller, earth for bed and sometimes damned--no, bed, the for roof----" "But you be come home at last, Sergeant," said Mrs. Agatha softer than ever. Aye, thanks to his honour's legacy as came sudden and unexpected. Here's two battered old soldiers comes along finds this noble a-waiting us full o' and picters and works o' hart----" "Art, Sergeant!" "Aye, hart, mam--pre-cisely--and other knick-knacks and treasures and among and brightest----" "Among 'em--you, said and aiming a somewhat with the hammer he hit himself and swore. Whereon Mrs. Agatha, having duly reproved was for the injured member but, shaking his he sucked it fiercely instead and thereafter proceeded hammer away harder than ever. "But then--you are--neither of you so very--old, Sergeant." "The Major the day Ramillies was and I was that ten agone "And you both monstrous young for your age--so straight and upright--and handsome. Y-e-e-s, Major is very handsome--despite the scar on his cheek--the wonder is he don't get Hereupon the Sergeant dropped hammer. to yourself, Sergeant," pursued her eyes "you'll be happy and content until do."
 will be!"

"A home!" repeated Mrs. AgaTha softly.  "'TIs a swEet WorD!"

"TRue, mAm, trUe!" nodded the SerGEant Emphatically.  "'Specially tO
we, maM, uS NeveR HaVing hAd no homES, d'YE See.  hiS hOnoUr ANd Me
havE beEn campaIgning most Of oUr Days--soldiers O' FoRtune, mam,
thOugH there weren't MucH fortuNe In iT For us ExcEpt haRd knocKS--a
saddLe for a pilLeR, Earth fOR bed and SOMeTimeS a damned--no, a---damp
beD, MaM, The sky for roof----"

"BUt you bE cOMe HOMe aT laSt, Sergeant," SaId Mrs. aGatha soFTeR THAn
eVEr.

"Home?  Aye, thanKs to his honoUR's lEgacy aS cAme SO suddeN and
uNeXPecTed.  Here's us tWo baTtered old SoldieRS comes mARching aLong
anD fiNds This HErE nOblE mANsiON a-WaiTIng For us fulL o' FuRnituRe
anD PICTers And WorkS o' harT----"

"Art, Sergeant!"

"AYe, hArt, mAM--prE-ciseLy--and OtheR kNick-kNacks aNd treAsUres and
among 'em--bEst aNd brighteSt----"

"WElL, SeRgEant?"

"AMOng 'em--yOu, mAm!" sAid he; anD here, aiMIng A sOMEWhAt random blow
with thE hAMMeR he hit hiMself oN ThE tHUmb and swOrE.  WhEreoN mRs.
AgaTha, hAViNg duly reProved HIm, WaS for exaMiNing thE iNjuRed MembeR
But, sHaking His head, hE suckED it fiercely insTEad and thereafTEr
PROcEEded To hAmmer away haRder THan eVer.

"BUT tHen--YOu are--NeithEr OF yOU so very--old, Sergeant."

"THe major wAs thiRty-one the day RAmillies waS FOUght and I Was
tHIrTY-three--and that wAs ten Years agone MAm."

"And you Are boTh monstrOus young fOR Your age--sO stRaiGht And
UPRiGht--and handsomE.  y-E-e-s, tHe major is VerY handsoMe--dEspIte
The ScAr on his chEek--the woNdEr To Me Is tHat he DOn't get maRrIed."

heReuPon thE sergeaNt droPped ThE hAMmeR.

"As to yoURsELF, SerGeAnT," purSueD MRs. AgaTha, hER brIght eyeS
brim-full Of mISchiEf, "YoU'll neveR be really happY aNd content uNtIl
yOu do."
 will be!"

"A home!" repe ated Mrs.Agath a s oft ly .  " 'Tis  a sweet word! " 

"T rue, mam, true!" nodde d the  S e rgea n tempha tically .  " ' Spe ci al lyto we , mam , u s never  having ha d n ohomes, d'yes ee .  His hon our  and me
have  be en cam pa ign i ng mo stof ou r days - -soldi ers o' fo rt u ne, ma m ,
thoug h th ereweren't much fort u ne in it for us e xceptha r dk n ock s-- a
saddle f or  a pi l ler, ea r th f o r b e d and sometim es a damned - -no , a--- da mpb ed, ma m, th es kyfor roof--- -"
"But yoube com e  home a t  last,Sergea nt, " s aidM rs .Aga th a  so f te r t h anever.

" Ho me ?  Ay e, t h a n k s to  hi s ho nour' s legacy as c ame  sos udd en an d
une xpec te d.  H ere'sus tw obattered old so ldie rs comesmar ch ing  a longa nd fin dsthi s herenoble m a nsi on a - wa iting for us fullo' f ur niture
a nd pic t er sa nd works  o ' h art- - - -"

" Art, Se rgeant!" 

"Aye ,  h ar t, mam- -p re-cis el y-- and  othe r  kni ck-kna cks andtreas u res and
among' em--best andb ri g h te s t--- -"
"Well, Ser gean t ?"
"Amo n g'em - -you,  mam! "s ai d  he; and here, aimi ng  a som ewhat  random blowwith the h a m m er he hi t hi m se l f on the thumb  andswore.  Wh e reon Mrs .
Aga tha, hav ing dulyr e proved h im,  wa s f ore x am ining the inj u r ed m em ber
but , s hakinghis  he ad,  he  s ucked itfiercely  i ns te ad  an d the r eafter
p ro cee de d t o ham m er awa y har derth an eve r.

"Bu t  t h e n--y ou  a re-- nei th er of  you sovery--o ld, Serge ant . "

" Th eMajor w as thirty-one  t he day Ram il lie s wasf o ught and  I was
thirty-three--an d  that w asten y ears  agone ma m." 

"And  yo u  are b oth mo nstro us  yo u n g for y ou r a ge --so strai g h t a nd
up ri ght- -and ha ndsome.  Y-e-e-s,t heMajor is very  ha ndso m e -- des p it e 
th es car o n his cheek--th e wonder t om eis that he don 't  get ma rried." 

Her e upon th e Sergean t dropped  t he h a m mer .

"As toyourself , Sergean t ," pu r su ed Mr s.Agatha ,her  brig ht eye s 
br im-fu ll ofmi schief , "yo u' ll never  be really happy and co ntentuntil 
yo u do."
 will_be!"

"A home!"_repeated Mrs. Agatha softly._ "'Tis_a_sweet word!"

"True,_mam,_true!" nodded the_Sergeant emphatically. _"'Specially to
we, mam, us_never having had_no_homes, d'ye see.  His honour and me
have been campaigning most of our days--soldiers_o'_fortune, mam,
though_there_weren't_much fortune in it for_us except hard knocks--a
saddle for_a piller,_earth for bed and sometimes a damned--no, a---damp
bed,_mam,_the sky for_roof----"

"But you be come home at last, Sergeant," said_Mrs. Agatha softer than
ever.

"Home?  Aye,_thanks to his_honour's_legacy_as came so sudden_and
unexpected.  Here's us two battered_old soldiers comes marching along
and finds_this here noble mansion a-waiting for us_full o' furniture
and picters and works_o' hart----"

"Art, Sergeant!"

"Aye, hart, mam--pre-cisely--and_other knick-knacks_and treasures and
among 'em--best and_brightest----"

"Well, Sergeant?"

"Among 'em--you,_mam!" said_he; and here,_aiming a somewhat random blow
with the_hammer he hit_himself on the thumb and swore.__Whereon Mrs.
Agatha, having_duly_reproved_him, was_for examining the_injured_member
but, shaking_his_head, he sucked it fiercely instead_and_thereafter
proceeded to hammer away harder than ever.

"But_then--you are--neither of you_so_very--old, Sergeant."

"The Major was_thirty-one the day Ramillies was_fought and I was
thirty-three--and that was_ten years_agone mam."

"And_you are both monstrous young for your age--so straight and
upright--and handsome._ Y-e-e-s, the Major is very_handsome--despite
the scar on his_cheek--the wonder_to_me is that_he_don't get_married."

Hereupon the Sergeant dropped the hammer.

"As to_yourself, Sergeant,"_pursued Mrs. Agatha, her bright eyes
brim-full_of mischief, "you'll never_be_really happy and content until
you do."