Page:Stevenson and Quiller-Couch - St Ives .djvu/457

 "The good Lord behear!" he exclaimed, stood stock-still for a moment, and waddled off at top speed towards the back door.

"We must tell Aunt at once! She will—why, Anne, where are you going?" She caught my sleeve. "To the hen-house, to be sure," said I.

A moment later, with peals of happy laughter we had taken hands and were running along the garden alleys towards the house. And I remember, as we ran, finding it somewhat singular that this should be the first time I had ever invaded Swanston Cottage by way of the front door.

We came upon Mrs. Gilchrist in the breakfast-room. A pile of linen lay on the horse-hair sofa, and the good lady, with a measuring-tape in one hand and a pair of scissors in the other, was walking around Ronald, who stood on the hearthrug in a very manly attitude. She regarded me over her gold-rimmed spectacles, and, shifting the scissors into her left hand, held out her right.

"H'm," said she; "I give ye good-morning, Mosha. And what might you be wanting of us this time?"

"Madam," I answered, "hat I hope, is fairly evident."

Ronald came forward. "I congratulate yon, Saint-Yves, with all my heart. And you may congratulate me: I have my commission."

"Nay, then," said I, "let me rather congratulate France that the war is over. Seriously, my dear fellow, I wish you joy. What's the regiment?"

"The 4th."

"Chevenix's!" "Chevenix is a decent fellow. He has behaved very well, indeed he has."

"Very well indeed," said Flora nodding her head.