"He's a bad soldier, Peter, who goes into the battle with no armor on; he'll come off badly, he will."
"What do you mean?" I said.
"Only don't you ever try it on, Peter, my lad, that's all!"
I thought I knew what he meant, but I did not like to ask him; and for one or two days after that, I got up rather earlier, and gave myself more time for prayer. But I soon slipped into the old careless way again.
[CHAPTER IX.]
THE ROBBER'S CAVE.
ONE morning in August, about six weeks after Salome's birthdays I went for the carriage, at eleven o'clock, and brought it round to the front door. I was looking forward to taking Master Reggie, as usual, to give his children their breakfast. But my mistress came to the door, which was standing open, with a letter in her hand.
"Peter," she said, "Master Reggie is not at all well; he seems to have taken cold; he will not be able to go out to-day. I want you, instead, to take this letter for me. You are a good walker, are you not?"