"You won't join because your brother has!" grinned the Colonel.
Ernie rolled a sheepish head.
"It's my wife, sir," he muttered. "See, he persecutes her somethink shameful."
Next afternoon the Colonel was crossing Saffrons Croft on his way to the Manor-house for tea, when a majestic young woman, a baby in her arms, sauntering under the elms watching the cricket, smiled at him suddenly.
He stopped, uncertain of her identity.
"I'm Mrs. Caspar, sir," she explained. "We met you the other night on the Head—Ern and me."
"Oh, I know all about you!" replied the Colonel, glancing at the baby who lifted to the sky a face like a sleeping rose. "My word!—she's a bonny un."
"She grows, sir," replied Ruth, cooing and contented. "We gets her all the air we can. So we come here with the children for a blow of the coolth most in general Saraday afternoons. More air than in the Moot."
"Where's Caspar?" asked the Colonel.
"Yonder under the ellums, sir, along with a friend. Come about the classes or something I did hear."