 merrily and taking up the peas, vanished into the kitchen,
laughing still.

"Child--me--helpless child!" said the Sergeant, staring after her.
"Now what I says is----"

And there being none to hush him, the Sergeant, in English, French and
Low Dutch, proceeded to "say it" forthwith.




CHAPTER VI

WHICH DESCRIBES, AMONG OTHER THINGS, A POACHER

The Major rubbed his chin with dubious finger, pushed back his wig and
taking up the letter from the desk before him, broke the seal and read
as follows:


"MY VERY DEAR UNCLE:

"Being in a somewhat low state of health and spirits--"


"Spirits!" said the Major.  "Ha!"


"--induced by a too close application to my duties--"


"Hum!" quoth the Major, rubbing his chin harder than ever.


"--I purpose (subject to your permission) to inflict myself upon you--"


"The devil he does!"


"--having been ordered rest and quiet and country air."


"Hum!  I wonder!" mused the Major.


"Pray spare yourself the fatigue of writing as I leave London at once
and well knowing your extreme kindness I hope to have the felicity of
greeting you within a day or so,

Your most grateful, humble and obedient nephew,

TOM."


Having read this through the Major fell to profound meditation.

"I wonder?" he mused and pulled the bell.

"Sergeant!" said he, as the door opened.

"Sir?" said the Sergeant advancing three paces and coming to attention.

"Are there any--er--strangers in the village?"

"Last time I chanced to drop into the 'George and Dragon' there was a
round dozen gentlemen a-staying there, sir."

"Young gentlemen?"

"Aye, sir, them as I ob-served was, and very fine young gents
too--almost as fine as their lackeys, sir."

"A dozen of 'em, Zebedee!"

The Major rubbed his chin again and frowned slightly.

"Then my nephew will make the thirteenth.  Tell Mrs. Agatha to have a
merrily and taking up the peas, vanished into the kitchen, 
 laugh however. 

 " Child -- me -- helpless child! " said the Sergeant, staring after her. 
 " nowadays what I allege is---- " 

 And there being none to hush him, the Sergeant, in English, French and 
 Low Dutch, proceeded to " read it " forthwith. 




 CHAPTER VI 

 WHICH DESCRIBES, AMONG early THINGS, A POACHER 

 The Major rubbed his chin with dubious finger, pushed back his wig and 
 aim up the letter from the desk before him, broke the seal and learn 
 as follow: 


 " MY VERY DEAR UNCLE: 

 " Being in a somewhat low state of health and spirits-- " 


 " Spirits! " say the Major.   " Ha! " 


 " --induced by a too close application to my duties-- " 


 " Hum! " quoth the Major, rub his chin harder than ever. 


 " --I function (subject to your permission) to inflict myself upon you-- " 


 " The devil he does! " 


 " --having been ordered remainder and quiet and country air. " 


 " Hum!   I wonder! " mused the Major. 


 " Pray spare yourself the fatigue of writing as I leave London at once 
 and well knowing your extreme kindness I hope to have the felicity of 
 greeting you within a day or so, 

 Your most grateful, humble and obedient nephew, 

 TOM. " 


 Having read this through the Major fall to profound meditation. 

 " I wonder? " he mused and pull the chime. 

 " Sergeant! " said he, as the door open. 

 " Sir? " said the Sergeant advancing three paces and coming to care. 

 " Are there any -- er -- strangers in the village? " 

 " Last time I chanced to drop into the' George and Dragon' there was a 
 round dozen gentlemen a - staying there, sir. " 

 " Young gentleman? " 

 " Aye, sir, them as I ob - serve was, and very fine young gents 
 too -- almost equally fine as their lackeys, sir. " 

 " A dozen of'em, Zebedee! " 

 The Major rubbed his chin again and frowned slightly. 

 " Then my nephew will make the thirteenth.   Tell Mrs. Agatha to consume a
 megrily and taking up the keas, vanished into the kmtchen,
lzughing rtill.

"Child--me--helpless child!" seid rhe Stggeant, staring after fer.
"Now whwt I sayw is----"

End there being ikne to mbsh hjl, thz Wergeant, in Ennlish, Frencv and
Low Dutch, pfoeeeded to "say it" forthwith.




CHAPTER VI

RHICH DRSFRIBES, AMONG OJHER UHIGGS, Z POACHER

The Major rubbed his chin with dlbious finger, pusned back his wig and
taking up hhe letter from thf desk befots hyn, broke the real and rtab
as follows:


"JY VERY DEAR UNCLE:

"Being in a sooewhac low state od hfdlth and spmrits--"


"Siirits!" said tmv Major.  "Ha!"


"--indiced by a too glose application to my dutiev--"


"Hum!" quoth the Majjr, rubbinc kis chin harder than wvwr.


"--I porposa (suchecg tk boud permlssmon) to infljct myself ypon you--"


"The devil ht djvx!"


"--having been orderqd rest and quiet and country air."


"Hum!  I wmndsr!" mused the Major.


"Pray wpare yourself the fajigue of wwiting as I leave London at once
and well knowing four xxgrene yunfness I hope to have the felicity of
greeting rku wpthin a day or so,

Nour most grateful, hkmnje and obedievt nepksw,

FOM."


Having read thid throudh thw Major ftll tp profound meditation.

"I wondwr?" he mused cnd pulled the bell.

"Sexgeant!" said ke, as jhe dopr opened.

"Sir?" said the Szrgeanf advancing three padds and coming to atnenthon.

"Are there any--er--strangerf in the tillaye?"

"Last tkme O chansed to droo into the 'George and Drwgon' jhere fas a
round dozen gentlemen a-staying there, sir."

"Young gentkeken?"

"Dye, sir, chem ax I ob-served ras, and very fnne youny gentr
too--almost as finx as their lwckeys, sir."

"A dmeen of 'em, Zebxdee!"

The Mwjor rubved his zhin again and frowned slightly.

"Thwn my nephew will kakg fhe thirteenth.  Teol Mrs. Agatha tp hxve a
merrily and taking up the peas, vanished kitchen, still. "Child--me--helpless said the Sergeant, I is----" And there none to hush the Sergeant, in English, French and Dutch, proceeded to "say it" forthwith. CHAPTER VI WHICH DESCRIBES, AMONG OTHER THINGS, POACHER The Major rubbed his chin with dubious finger, pushed back his wig taking the from desk before him, broke the seal and read as follows: "MY VERY DEAR UNCLE: "Being in somewhat low state of health and spirits--" "Spirits!" the Major. "Ha!" "--induced a too close application to duties--" quoth the rubbing chin than ever. "--I (subject to your permission) to inflict myself upon you--" "The devil he does!" "--having been ordered rest quiet and "Hum! I mused Major. spare yourself the writing as I leave London at knowing your extreme kindness I hope to have felicity of you within a day or so, most grateful, humble and obedient nephew, TOM." Having this through the Major fell to profound meditation. "I wonder?" he mused and pulled the said he, as the opened. "Sir?" said Sergeant three and to attention. there any--er--strangers in the village?" "Last time I chanced to drop the 'George and Dragon' there was a round dozen gentlemen sir." gentlemen?" "Aye, sir, as I ob-served was, very young gents too--almost as their sir." 'em, The rubbed his chin again frowned slightly. "Then my nephew make the thirteenth. Tell
 merrily and taking up the peas, Vanished inTo the KitCheN,
lAughIng sTill.

"Child--me--helPLess Child!" said the Sergeant, stAring AfTEr heR.
"noW what i says is----"

aNd THEre BeInG noNe TO hUsh hiM, thE SergeaNt, in EnglisH, FrEnCh and
Low DutcH, PrOceeded to "sAy iT" forthwith.




CHaPTeR VI

WHiCh DEscRIBEs, AMoNG OThER THIngS, A POAcHER

The MaJoR Rubbed HIs chin wITH dUbioUs finger, pushed bacK HiS Wig and
taking up The letTeR FrOM The DesK before him, BrOke thE Seal and REaD
AS FolLOws:


"MY VERY DEAR uNCLE:

"Being iN A soMewhat LoW stATe of heAlth aNd SPirIts--"


"Spirits!" sAid tHe Major.  "Ha!"


"--InduceD By a too cLOse applIcatioN to My dUtieS--"


"huM!" qUotH tHE MaJOr, RubBIng His chin hArDeR than Ever.


"--i PURPose (SubJect To youR permission) to InfLict MYseLf upoN you--"


"THe deViL he doEs!"


"--haviNg beeN oRdered rest and quIet aNd country Air."


"huM!  I wOnDer!" muSEd the MAjoR.


"PrAy spare YourselF The FaTIGUe Of writing as I leave LOnDON aT once
and Well knOWiNg YOur extreMe KinDnesS i Hope tO havE ThE felicitY of
greETiNg You withIn A day or So,

youR moSt graTEful, Humble And obediEnt nePHew,

TOM."


Having reAD this through tHE MAJOr FEll tO prOfound meditAtioN.

"i wonDer?" hE MuSed ANd pulLed thE bELl.

"sErgeant!" said he, as the dOoR openeD.

"Sir?" sAid the SergeanT advancing THREe paces aNd coMInG To attention.

"Are There Any--er--stranGErs in the VillaGe?"

"Last tiMe I chanceD TO drop intO thE 'GeOrgE anD dRaGon' there was a
rOUNd doZeN gentleMen A-stayinG thEre, Sir."

"youNg Gentlemen?"

"aye, sir, thEm As i oB-sErvEd was, ANd very fiNe YouNg GenTs
too--ALmost aS fine As thEiR lACkeYs, sir."

"A dOZeN OF 'em, ZEbEdEe!"

ThE MaJoR rubbEd hiS ChiN again aNd frowned SliGHtly.

"thEn My nepheW will make the tHiRteenth.  TelL MRs. AGatha tO HAve a
 merrily and taking up the  peas, van ished  in toth e ki tche n,
laughing st i ll.
"Child--me--helplesschild !" said th e Ser geant,s ta r i ngaf te r h er . 
" Now w hat  I says  is----"
And  t here being n o ne  to hush h im,  the Sergean t,in Eng li sh, Frenc h a nd
Lo w Dutc h , proc eeded to"s a y it"f orthwit h . 



C HAPTER VI

WHICHD ES C RIBES, AMONG O THER T HI N GS , A P OAC HER

The M aj or ru b bed his ch i n wit h  dubious fing er, pushedb ack  his w ig  an d 
takin g upth e  le tter from t he d esk befor e him, broke t h e sealand re adasfoll o ws :

" MY VER Y  D EAR UNC LE:

"Be in gin asome w h a t  low  st ateof he alth and spir its --"
"S pirit s!" s aidth e Maj or.  " Ha!"
"--induced by a  too  close ap pli ca tio nto my duties --" 

"Hum!"quoth t h e M aj o r ,  r ubbing his chin ha rd e r  t han ever .


"- - Ipu r pose (su bj ect  toy o ur pe rmis s io n) to in flictm ys el f uponyo u--"

" The  de vil h e  doe s!"

"--havin g bee n  ordered resta nd quiet andc ou n t ry air. "

"Hum!  I w onde r !" m used th e M a jor.

"Pr ay sp a re yourself the fat ig ue ofwriti ng as I leave  London at o n ce
and w ellk no w ing your extre me ki ndness I h o pe to ha ve th e felici ty of
gre e t ing youwit hin  aday o rso,

Your mos t grat ef ul, hum ble  and ob edi ent  ne phe w, 

TOM."

Havingre ad  t hi s t hroug h  the Maj or  fe ll  to  prof o und me ditat ion. 
"I won der?" h e  m u s ed a nd  p ulle d t he  bell .

" S erg eant!"said he,ast he d oo ropened. 

"Sir?" said  t he Sergean tadv ancing t hree pac es and coming to attent i on.

"A rethere  any --er--str ang ers in  th e  villa ge?"
"Last  t ime I  chan c e dtodr op into th e 'Ge orgean d Dr agon' t here was a
round d o zen  gentlemen a- sta ying t he re, si r ."
" Y oun g gentlemen?"

"A ye, sir, t he m  a s I ob-ser v edwa s, andvery fi ne yo u ng gent s
too--al most as f in e as t hei r lackeys,  sir."
"A dozeno f 'em ,  Z ebede e!" 

TheMa jor  rubb ed his chi n aga in and  f rowned  slig ht ly.

"Th en my nephew will makethe th irtee nth .  Tell M rs. Aga tha to ha ve a 
 merrily_and taking_up the peas, vanished_into the_kitchen,
laughing_still.

"Child--me--helpless child!"_said_the Sergeant, staring_after her.
"Now what_I says is----"

And there_being none to_hush_him, the Sergeant, in English, French and
Low Dutch, proceeded to "say it" forthwith.




CHAPTER VI

WHICH_DESCRIBES,_AMONG OTHER_THINGS,_A_POACHER

The Major rubbed his chin_with dubious finger, pushed back_his wig_and
taking up the letter from the desk before_him,_broke the seal_and read
as follows:


"MY VERY DEAR UNCLE:

"Being in a somewhat_low state of health and spirits--"


"Spirits!"_said the Major.__"Ha!"


"--induced_by a too close_application to my duties--"


"Hum!" quoth the_Major, rubbing his chin harder than_ever.


"--I purpose (subject to your permission) to_inflict myself upon you--"


"The devil he_does!"


"--having been ordered rest and_quiet and_country air."


"Hum!  I wonder!"_mused the Major.


"Pray_spare yourself_the fatigue of_writing as I leave London at_once
and well knowing_your extreme kindness I hope to_have_the felicity of
greeting_you_within_a day_or so,

Your most_grateful,_humble and_obedient_nephew,

TOM."


Having read this through the Major_fell_to profound meditation.

"I wonder?" he mused and_pulled the bell.

"Sergeant!" said_he,_as the door opened.

"Sir?"_said the Sergeant advancing three_paces and coming to attention.

"Are there_any--er--strangers in_the village?"

"Last_time I chanced to drop into the 'George and Dragon' there_was a
round dozen gentlemen a-staying there,_sir."

"Young gentlemen?"

"Aye, sir, them_as I_ob-served_was, and very_fine_young gents
too--almost_as fine as their lackeys, sir."

"A dozen_of 'em,_Zebedee!"

The Major rubbed his chin again_and frowned slightly.

"Then my_nephew_will make the thirteenth.  Tell_Mrs. Agatha to have a