Our Admirable Betty Part 8

"They often do," she answered.

"I'll go," said the Major and glanced toward the ladder. "Good-bye, my lady."

"Well?" she asked softly.

"And--er--my grateful thanks----"

"Well?" she asked again, softer yet.

"I also hope that--er--I trust that since we're neighbours, I--we----"

"The wall is not insurmountable, sir. Well? O man," she cried suddenly--"if you really want it so why don't you ask for it--or take it?"

The Major stared and flushed.

"You--you mean----"

"This!" she cried and tossed the rose to his feet. Scarcely believing his eyes he stooped and took it up, and holding it in reverent fingers watched her hasting along the yew-walk. Standing thus he saw her met by a slender, elegant gentleman, saw him stoop to kiss her white fingers, and, turning suddenly, strode to the ladder.

So the Major presently climbed back over the wall and went his way, the rose tenderly cherished in the depths of one of his great side-pockets and, as he went, he limped rather noticeably but whistled softly to himself, a thing very strange in him, whistled softly but very merrily.

CHAPTER V

HOW SERGEANT ZEBEDEE TRING BEGAN TO WONDER

Mrs. Agatha sat just within the kitchen-garden sh.e.l.ling peas--and Mrs.

Agatha did it as only a really accomplished woman might; at least, so thought Sergeant Zebedee, who, busied about some of his multifarious carpentry jobs, happened to come that way. He thought also that with her pretty face beneath snowy mob-cap, her shapely figure in its neat gown, she made as attractive a picture as any man might see on the longest day's march--of all which Mrs. Agatha was supremely conscious, of course.

"A hot day, mam!" said he, halting.

Mrs. Agatha glanced up demurely, smiled, and gave all her attention to the peas again.

"You do be getting more observant every day, Sergeant!" she said, sh.e.l.ling away rapidly.

The Sergeant stroked his new-shaven cheek with a pair of pincers he chanced to be holding and stared down at her busy fingers; Mrs. Agatha possessed very shapely hands, soft and dimpled--of which she was also aware.

"But you look cool enough, mam," said he, ponderously, "and 'tis become a matter of----"

"Duty, Sergeant?" she enquired.

"No, mam, a matter of wonder to me how you manage it?"

"Belike 'tis all because Nature made me so."

"Natur', mam--aye, 'tis a wonderful inst.i.tootion----"

"For making me cool?"

"For making you at all, mam!" Having said which, he wheeled suddenly, and took three quick strides away but, hearing her call, he turned and took three slow ones back again. "Well, mam?" he enquired, staring at the pincers.

"'Tis a hot day, Sergeant!" she laughed. At this he stood silent awhile, lost in contemplation of her dexterous hands.

"Egad!" he exclaimed, suddenly, "'Tis a beautiful finger!"

"Is it, Sergeant?"

"For a trigger--aye mam. To shoot straight a man must have a true eye, mam, but he must also have a shooting-hand, quick and light o' the finger, d'ye see, not to spoil alignment. If you'd been a man, now, you'd ha' handled a musket wi' the best if you'd only been a man----"

"But I'm--only a woman."

"True, mam, true--'tis Natur' again--fault o' circ.u.mstance----"

"And I don't want to be a man----"

"Certainly not, mam----"

"And wouldn't if I could!"

"Glad, o' that, mam."

"O, and prithee why?"

"Because as a woman you're--female, d'ye see--I mean as you're what Natur' intended and such being so you're--naturally formed--I mean----"

"What d'you mean, pray?"

"A woman. And now, talking o' the Major----"

"But we're not!"

"Aye, but we are, mam, and so talking, the Major do surprise me--same be a-changing, mam."

"Changing? How?"

"Well, this morning he went----"

"Into the orchard!" said Mrs. Agatha, nodding.

"Aye, he did. Since I finished that arbour he's took to it amazing--sits there by the hour--mam!" Mrs. Agatha smiled at the peas.

"But this morning, mam, arter breakfast, he went and turned out all his--clothes, mam. 'Sergeant,' says he, 'be these the best I've got'--and him as never troubled over his clothes except to put 'em on and forget 'em."

"But you hadn't built the arbour then!" said Mrs. Agatha softly.

"Arbour!" exclaimed the Sergeant, staring.

"You've known him a long time?"