“Are you sure I cannot assist you?” said the major, hesitating about leaving the girl in her trouble.
“Go away, I tell you.”
“Well then, will you tell me where to find the Lindham road?”
For answer she averted her head from him and pointed in one direction. This he followed, found the road and the open common, coming out close to a cottage to which he directed his steps in search of a cup of water.
The door was half open, and as soon as his steps approached, an old woman’s sharp voice exclaimed,—
“Ah, you’ve come back then, you hussy! Who was that came and called you out, eh?”
“You are making a mistake,” said the major quietly. “I came to ask if I could have a glass of water?”
“Oh yes, come in, whoever you are, if you ar’n’t afraid to see an ugly old woman lying in bed. I thought it was my grandchild. Who are you?”
“I come from Brackley,” said the major, smiling down at the crotchety old thing in the bed.
“Do you? oh, then I know you. Your one of old Sir John Day’s boys. Be you the one who went sojering?”