The Colonel went up and shook hands with the victorious batsmen, and Mrs. Lewknor waved her parasol.
"Well done, Caspar!" she cried. "Stuck it out!"
A few days later, his time being up, Ernie was detailed for a draft for home.
The Colonel, on signing his papers, said that he was sorry to be parting, and meant it.
"Charming fellow!" he said to the Adjutant, when Ern had left the room.
"Yes," answered Captain Royal in his lofty way. "Too charming. He'll never be any good to himself or us either."
"I'm not so sure," replied the Colonel. "He's the sort that never does well except when he's got to."
That evening Ern went up to the Colonel's bungalow to say good-bye to Mrs. Lewknor.
"Where are you going?" asked the little lady.
"Back home, 'm," Ernie answered. "Old Town, Beachbourne. There's no place in the world to touch it."