Harry Fairfield strode from the room, and was still full of the grim emotion which had animated the close of his interview, when he reached the little inn at which but a few weeks before his brother Charles had stabled his horse, when making his last visit to Hatherton.
CHAPTER LI.
SERGEANT-MAJOR ARCHDALE.
Harry Fairfield was a captain in his county militia. It was right that the House of Fairfield should be represented in that corps. Charlie, who was of an easy compliant temper, would have taken the commission and the light duties, if that dignity had been put upon him. But Harry chose it. It extended his acquaintance, added to his opportunities of selling his horses, and opened some houses, small and great, to him, in a neighbourly fashion, when making his circuits to fair and market. He knew something of games, too, and was shrewd at whist and draughts, and held a sure cue at billiards. On the whole, his commission turned him in something in the course of a year.
It was upon some regimental business that Sergeant-Major Archdale was awaiting his return at Wyvern.
Harry Fairfield, as it happened, was thinking of the Sergeant as he rode into the yard in gloomy rumination.
“Well, Archdale, what’s the news?” said he, as he dismounted.
The news was not a great deal. After he had heard it Harry paused for a time, and said he—
“Quite well, Archdale, I hope?”
“Well, sir, I thank you.”
Again Harry paused.