“He has deserted—­a thing I have seen a fellow shot for, and he has left me a prey to parental anxieties.”

“And so he has me, for that matter.  But I forgive him.  Anyway, I should like to hear his story before I condemn him.  Why, he’s only nineteen and four months, come Martinmas.  Besides, how do we know?—­he may have had some very good reason for going.”

“His age makes that probable, doesn’t it?”

“I dare say it was after some girl, sir.”

“Call that a good reason?”

“I call it a strong one.  Haven’t you never found it?” (the Colonel was betrayed into winking).  “From sixteen to sixty a woman will draw a man where a horse can’t.”

“Since that is so,” said the Colonel, dryly, “you can tell him to come to breakfast.”

“Am I to say that from you?”

“No; you can take that much upon yourself.  I have known you presume a good deal more than that, John.”

“Well, sir,” said John, hanging his head for a moment, “old servants are like old friends—­they do presume a bit; but then” (raising his head proudly) “they care for their masters, young and old.  New servants, sir—­why, this lot that we’ve got now, they would not shed a tear for you if you was to be hanged.”

“Why should they?” said the Colonel.  “A man is not hanged for building churches.  Come, beat a retreat.  I’ve had enough of you.  See there’s a good breakfast.”

“Oh,” said John, “I’ve took care of that.”

When the Colonel came down he found his son leaning against the mantel-piece; but he left it directly and stood erect, for the Colonel had drilled him with his own hands.

“Ugh!” said the Colonel, giving a snort peculiar to himself, but he thought, “How handsome the dog is!” and was proud of him secretly, only he would not show it.  “Good-morning, sir,” said the young man, with civil respect.

“Your most obedient, sir,” said the old man, stiffly.

After that neither spoke for some time, and the old butler glided about like a cat, helping both of them, especially the young one, to various delicacies from the side table.  When he had stuffed them pretty well, he retired softly and listened at the door.  Neither of the gentlemen was in a hurry to break the ice; each waited for the other.

Walter made the first remark—­“What delicious tea!”

“As good as where you come from?” inquired Colonel Clifford, insidiously.

“A deal better,” said Walter.

“By-the-bye,” said the Colonel, “where do you come from?”

Walter mentioned the town.

“You astonish me,” said the Colonel.  “I made sure you had been enjoying the pleasures of the capital.”

“My purse wouldn’t have stood that, sir.”

“Very few purses can,” said Colonel Clifford.  Then, in an off-hand way, “Have you brought her along with you?”

“Certainly not,” said Walter, off his guard.  “Her?  Who?”