Mrs. Hardy stared at him. She did not in the least understand this sudden jocularity of mood.
The sergeant, nothing daunted by her expression, allowed his spirits to rise higher and higher, and continued,—
“The captain’s worse than the sergeant;
The sergeant’s worse than the corp’ral;
The corp’ral’s worse than the private;
But the major’s the worst of all.”
“Stephen,” said Mrs. Hardy tearfully, “I don’t think it’s kind of you to sing that.”
“Why not, my dear? why not?”
“Because—you know why.”
“Because I used to sing it every morning when the boy was here. Well, I just want to remind you of him, to keep you from forgetting, as it were. You think he is coming back, don’t you?”