[Illustration: Bent down to kiss Elsie's as he had kissed her mother's.]
"Now, my dear lady," said the old gentleman, "I must ask you for the
favour of a few minutes' private conversation."
"And I will stay with the children," said Colonel George, "for I want
to make friends again."
Dick and Elsie were a little shy at being left alone with a stranger;
but before he could say a word to them the Corporal appeared leading
the pony towards the stable. He saluted Colonel Fitzdenys, and was
going on, but the Colonel at once called to him by name and shook his
hand warmly, while the Corporal beamed with pleasure, and said how glad
he was to see his honour returned in good health.
"Oh! do you know the Corporal?" asked Dick timidly.
"Know the Corporal?" said Colonel George. "I should think I did know
him, and a fine, brave fellow he is. Why, he saved my life once, he
and your father. I was lieutenant in your father's troop, and at the
very first skirmish in which we were engaged in the war, I was hit
here, in the shoulder, so that I could not hold my reins. My horse ran
away with me, right into the middle of the French, and there was not
another horse in the regiment that could catch him, except your
father's horse, Billy Pitt. But he came galloping after me as hard as
he could ride, and caught him; and Brimacott, who was his servant,
followed as fast as he could, and between them they brought me back
from the middle of the enemy, or perhaps I shouldn't be here now.
Pages:
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42