Page:Round the Red Lamp.djvu/42

30 of those new-fangled things! To think of you coming by railroad like that! What's the world a-comin' to!'

There was silence for some minutes while Norah sat stirring her tea and glancing sideways at the bluish lips and champing jaws of her companion.

'You must have seen a deal o' life, uncle," said she. 'It must seem a long, long time to you!'

'Not so very long neither. I'm ninety, come Candlemass, but it don't seem long since I took the bounty. And that battle, it might have been yesterday. I've got the smell of the burned powder in my nose yet. Eh, but I get a power o' good from my rations!'

He did indeed look less worn and colourless than when she first saw him. His face was flushed and his back more erect.

'Have you read that?' he asked, jerking his head towards the cutting.

'Yes, uncle, and I'm sure you must be proud of it.'

'Ah, it was a great day for me! A great day! The Regent was there, and a fine body of a man too! "The ridgment is proud of you," says he. "And I'm proud of the ridgment," say I. "A damned good answer too!" says he to Lord Hill, and they both bust out