The conversation turned on the coming meet of the Surrey hounds: "West has got four new hunters, I believe. He goes in a great deal for hunting since his son died," said Graham. "Young West was with you, wasn't he, Mackenzie ? Was it in Afghanistan?" "Yes; he was attached to our regiment for nearly six weeks before he was killed. We all liked him thoroughly." "But I heard," put in Burrows, (who was a protége of Mrs. Holler's, and who had entered the line a few weeks before) "- I heard that he was rather a disgrace-" "He is dead! Mr. Burrows," said the Major, quietly. "Yes," added Mrs. Hol ler," and I daresay the army lost little by "More than could be said of the Jews and money-lenders," added Holler, with a smile at his own acuteness. Mackenzie did not know what to say; he knew that West had had debts, for he himself had had to do with the paying of them; and he also knew that every man in the regiment had thoroughly respected the young fellow who had died, like a man, with them, in Afghanistan. He looked pleadingly at Graham, but Graham was looking intently at his plate, in extreme discomfort. Mrs. Holler went on, relentlessly: "He could not have been a nice companion, I should think, if all the stories "I always thought well of him," broke in Mackenzie. "Oh, Major Mackenzie! I think you army men condone faults that others could not!" Mackenzie disregarded the thrust. Graham made an effort to turn the conversation; but Burrows had not yet had his say. "I have heard it hinted," said he, that West was killed in some brawl or other, and not on the field at all." "No, I think not, Mr. Burrows," chirped Holler; "he was shot in the back-funking, I believe!" "That's a damned lie!" Poor Mackenzie had stood it as long as he could. Half rising from his chair, he looked appealingly towards Mrs. Graham: "I beg-I beg your pardon, indeed I do, Mrs. Graham! I forgot-I-," and the poor old fellow blushed like any girl. As for the rest of the table, there was a momentary hush, and then everybody began to talk his loudest, as if to overcome the bad effects of any such lapse of propriety. There is no book upon etiquette which says what shall be done when some one swears at the table. Mrs. Holler looked inexpressibly shocked; but her heart was jubil ant-for she had never before "scored" on the Major, and she owed him a heavy grudge; for, among other things, Mackenzie had discovered the fact that the Poppenham firm had put hide-scrapings into their tinned-beef, and the Government had cancelled the contract! And was not Mrs. Holler born a Poppenham of the Poppenhams? As soon as possible Mrs. Graham rose from the table, and, without a word, Mackenzie gave his arm to Miss Broadhurst, and they went out to the drawing-room. In a moment Mr. Graham and Burrows came in, and Burrows began to talk to Miss Broadhurst. Taking Mackenzie by the arm, Graham led him over to the corner, discoursing on a bed of primroses which he was laying out for his own amusement. But primroses were not in the Major's line. Suddenly interrupting Graham, he blurted out: I really beg your pardon; I am very sorry I should have done such a thing; I didn't But Graham patted him on the back as if he had been a schoolboy. "Why, my dear fellow, don't think of it! Why, I'd-I'd do the same thing; the fact is, if you hadn't said it, I was going to say-those identical words myself." This was a gigantic falsehood, as the Major knew, but it was a comforting one. Now it happened that Mrs. Graham had among her guests two or three severities, who were much like Mrs. Holler in their prim ways; and by two days' talk Mrs. Holler had convinced them that Mackenzie was a most depraved specimen of manhood. Therefore, while Mr. Holler, after an animated private discussion with his wife, went to demand an abject apology from the Major, she entertained her bosom friends and Miss Broadhurst with a few remarks upon rudeness as an art. Miss Broadhurst looked annoyed and said nothing; but when Mrs. Holler concluded a half-minute speech, by denouncing Mackenzie as a low-bred cad, she rose, and took three quick steps towards the speaker. That's not true!" said she, with an angry gasp. "I think Major Mackenzie just called Mr. Holler what he is!" Mrs. Holler was stricken speechless. What was about to happen next can never be known, for at that noment a cry of anguish came up from the billiard-room below. There was surely a familiar ring to the voice, for Mrs. Holler ejaculated "James!" and rushed for the door. "That's not true!" said she, with an angry gasp." Along a passage, down four steps, along another passage, and the door of the billiard-room was in sight. Peeping through the screen doors stood the butler, evidently enjoying hugely what he saw. To thrust him aside was the work of an instant for the agitated spouse, who entered, followed by Miss Broadhurst. On the billiardtable, stretched on his back, lay Holler, and beside the table, rapidly draw Mr. Green ever baited bulls at Madrid, ing him to and fro on its chalky he would have been more cautious besurface, stood Mackenzie. Holler fore shaking the red rag. With her had evidently resisted; but at this cue in rest, Mrs. Holler abandoned her juncture Mackenzie held one strong pursuit of Mackenzie, and made full hand on his collar, while with tilt at Mr. Green, whose portly waistthe other he grasped one of the un- coat offered a tempting mark. The fortunate Holler's ankles. There was now prostrate Green was hit fairly, at very little bodily injury being done, about the level of the third waistcoat but the indignity was unquestionable. button, and lost no time in making To see was to think; to think, to for the door, by which all the others act. Mrs. Holler snatched up a cue, had already made their escape. and began to belabour Mackenzie over the back with the butt-end. "You brute! Mrs. Holler turned upon her husband, who was descending from the Kick him, James! billiard-table. Kick him, dearest! Oh-you-you-!" but words failed her. . Thus assailed, Mackenzie relinquished his hold of Holler, and ran to place the table between himself and his new found enemy; but she started in pursuit. Old Mr. Green, who had been a quiet but interested spectator, who was now sitting down on a lounge, weak with laughter, caught her eye. He, at the same instant, not liking her interference (for, above all things, he loved "a square fight, by gad!"), thrust out his cue to bar her progress. Had "Why didn't you thrash him?" Why didn't I thrash him!" retorted the savage Holler, " Because!!" Before luncheon on the following day Mackenzie had made everything right with Mrs. Graham, who was very kind and sympathetic; but, despite their entreaties, he had deternined to return to the city in the afternoon, intending to complete his visit after the Hollers had gone. He was standing in the little library, looking at a marine water-colour, wondering the while if he ought not to write a note of apology and explanation to Miss Broadhurst, when that young lady entered. He turned around, "Oh, Miss Ethel- he began; then he stopped. She divined what he was about to say, and laid her hand on his arm. It was a matter of little difficulty for her to read the Major's thoughts. "I think you were quite right. I wished that I had been a man, and I'd have stuck up for Mr. West, too; and wasn't it funny-on the billiardtable!" she added mischievously. But then I swore!" said the disconsolate Major. No, not one-tenth as good!" "Well, then," said she, with an assertion of authority that the Major thought the prettiest thing in the world, "pay attention to me!" "Exactly what I would like to do!" quoth the Major, roguishly. "I didn't mean that, stupid!" said Tom before. He rushed to the door. Ethel, with a smile. Look here, Tom, Aunt Holler says we don't get on well!" Mrs. Holler's face was a picture; she turned and fled. "Tom, indeed!' she muttered; "the wretch!" The Major turned to Ethel. |