was reclining on a horsehair sofa of decidedly serious presence, and was still in mourning, hut this time it was for her nephew.
She was surprised at seeing a brown-faced sturdy soldier enter the room, and her astonishment was not diminished when he announced himself as a soldier of the late Captain Redfern's regiment, for Captain Redfern and she had never been on particularly friendly terms, and since Mr. Pintle's death they had come to open war. The mourning that she wore was not by any means the result of emotion at that officer's death, but sprung from a species of natural taste for tombs, and everything that pertained thereunto.
"What is your business with me, soldier?" she asked.
"Beg pardon, ma'am; have I the honour of speaking to Mrs. Pintle?"
"You have."
"I'm the bearer of this parcel from the late Captain Redfern. He directed me to place it in your hands as soon as I returned to England. I only arrived four days ago, and I've availed myself of the first leave of absence I could get to bring it to you."
And young John touched his forehead, and wheeled about to depart.
"Stop," she said. "You must wait until I see what it is about."
And she attempted to open the parcel, but her hands trembled so that she could not unfasten the knots, so young John whipped out a pocket-knife, and solved the difficulty after the original Gordian receipt. The
