He stood at the door, erect as a ramrod, and watched the young man up the road.  His conversation at the supper-table that night related almost entirely to puppy-dogs and the best way of training them.

He kept a close eye upon his daughter for the next day or two, but human nature has its limits.  He tried to sleep one afternoon in his easy-chair with one eye open, but the exquisite silence maintained by Miss Ward was too much for it.  A hum of perfect content arose from the feature below, and five minutes later Miss Ward was speeding in search of Mr. Farrer.

“I had to come, Ted,” she said, breathlessly, “because to-morrow’s Wednesday.  I’ve got something to tell you, but I don’t know whether I ought to.”

“Tell me and let me decide,” said Mr. Farrer, tenderly.

“I—­I’m so afraid you might be frightened,” said the girl.  “I won’t tell you, but I’ll give you a hint.  If you see anything awful, don’t be frightened.”

Mr. Farrer stroked her hand.  “The only thing I’m afraid of is your father,” he said, softly.

“Oh!” said the girl, clasping her hands together.  “You have guessed it.”

“Guessed it?” said Mr. Farrer.

Miss Ward nodded.  “I happened to pass his door this morning,” she said, in a low voice.  “It was open a little way, and he was standing up and measuring one of mother’s nightgowns against his chest.  I couldn’t think what he was doing it for at first.”

Mr. Farrer whistled and his face hardened.

“That’s not fair play,” he said at last.  “All right; I’ll be ready for him.”

“He doesn’t like to be put in the wrong,” said Miss Ward.  “He wants to prove that you haven’t got any courage.  He’d be disappointed if he found you had.”

“All right,” said Mr. Farrer again.  “You’re an angel for coming to tell me.”

“Father would call me something else, I expect,” said Miss Ward, with a smile.  “Good-bye.  I want to get back before he wakes up.”

She was back in her chair, listening to her father’s slumbers, half an hour before he awoke.

“I’m making up for to-morrow night,” he said, opening his eyes suddenly.

His daughter nodded.

“Shows strength of will,” continued the sergeant-major, amiably.  “Wellington could go to sleep at any time by just willing it.  I’m the same way; I can go to sleep at five minutes’ notice.”

“It’s a very useful gift,” said Miss Ward, piously, “very.”

Mr. Ward had two naps the next day.  He awoke from the second at twelve-thirty a.m., and in a somewhat disagreeable frame of mind rose and stretched himself.  The house was very still.  He took a small brown-paper parcel from behind the sofa and, extinguishing the lamp, put on his cap and opened the front door.

If the house was quiet, the little street seemed dead.  He closed the door softly and stepped into the darkness.  In terms which would have been understood by “our army in Flanders” he execrated the forefathers, the name, and the upbringing of Mr. Edward Farrer.