Therewasanairofprosaicwholesomenessabouttheroomwhichithadlackedonthepreviousnight,andthedirty,shriveledlittlepawwaspitchedontheside-boardwithacarelessnesswhichbetokenednogreatbeliefinitsvirtues.
"Isupposealloldsoldiersarethesame,"saidMrsWhite."Theideaofourlisteningtosuchnonsense!Howcouldwishesbegrantedinthesedays?Andiftheycould,howcouldtwohundredpoundshurtyou,father?"
"Morrissaidthethingshappenedsonaturally,"saidhisfather,"thatyoumightifyousowishedattributeittocoincidence."
"Welldon'tbreakintothemoneybeforeIcomeback,"saidHerbertasherosefromthetable."I'mafraidit'llturnyouintoamean,avariciousman,andweshallhavetodisownyou."
Hismotherlaughed,andfollowinghimtothedoor,watchedhimdowntheroad;andreturningtothebreakfasttable,wasveryhappyattheexpenseofherhusband'scredulity.
Allofwhichdidnotpreventherfromscurryingtothedooratthepostman'sknock,norpreventherfromreferringsomewhatshortlytoretiredSergeant-Majorsofbibuloushabitswhenshefoundthatthepostbroughtatailor'sbill.
"Idaresay,"saidMr.White,pouringhimselfoutsomebeer;"butforallthat,thethingmovedinmyhand;thatI'llswearto."
Hiswifemadenoreply.Shewaswatchingthemysteriousmovementsofamanoutside,who,peeringinanundecidedfashionatthehouse,appearedtobetryingtomakeuphismindtoenter.
Inmentalconnexionwiththetwohundredpounds,shenoticedthatthestrangerwaswelldressed,andworeasilkhatofglossynewness.
Threetimeshepausedatthegate,andthenwalkedonagain.Thefourthtimehestoodwithhishanduponit,andthenwithsuddenresolutionflungitopenandwalkedupthepath.
MrsWhiteatthesamemomentplacedherhandsbehindher,andhurriedlyunfasteningthestringsofherapron,putthatusefularticleofapparelbeneaththecushionofherchair.
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