“Well, I suppose it cannot be helped,” Mallett laughed.  “Of course, they meant it kindly.”

“I will see the luggage got in the dog cart, and come over with it,” Lechmere said.

“You can see it into the dog cart, George, but you must come with me.  I have got to put up with it, and you must, too.”

He stood chatting with Mr. Norton on the platform till George returned, and said that the luggage was all packed, and that the dog cart had gone on ahead.  There was an amused look on his face, which was explained when, on going out, Mallett found an open carriage with four horses, with postilions in new purple silk jackets and orange caps, and large rosettes of the same colour at the horses’ heads.

“Bless me,” said the Major, in a tone of dismay.  “I shall feel as if I were a candidate for the county.”

“They are the family colours, you see, sir.”

“Yes, I know, Norton, and the Conservative colours, too.  Well, it cannot be helped, and it does not make much difference after all.

“There will be no fuss when I get there I hope, Norton,” he went on, as he took his place, and Lechmere climbed up into the seat behind.

“Well, sir,” the agent said, apologetically, “there is an arch or two.  You see, the tenants wanted to do the thing properly, and the school children will be on the lawn, and there are going to be some bonfires in the evening, and they have got a big box of fireworks down from London.  Why, sir, it would be strange if they did not give you a welcome after going through all that, and being wounded three times and getting so much credit.  Why, it wouldn’t be English, sir.”

“I suppose it’s all right,” Mallett said, resignedly; “and, indeed, Norton, one cannot help being pleased at seeing one’s tenants glad to have one home again.”

In half-an-hour’s drive they arrived at the boundary of the estate.  Here an arch had been erected, and a score of the tenants and tenants’ sons, assembled on horseback, gave a loud cheer as the carriage drove up, and as it died away one shouted: 

“Why, that is George Lechmere behind.  Give him a cheer, too!” and again a hearty shout went up.

The carriage stopped, and Major Mallett said a few words, thanking them heartily for the welcome they had given him, and assuring them what pleasure it was to him to be back again.

“I thank you, also,” he concluded, “for the cheer that you have given to my faithful comrade and friend, George Lechmere.  As you all know, he saved my life at the risk of his own, and has received the greatest honour a soldier can gain—­the Victoria Cross.  You have a good right to be proud of him, as one of yourselves, and to give him a hearty welcome.”

The carriage then drove on again, the farmers riding close behind as an escort.  At the entrance of the drive up to the house another and larger arch had been erected.  Here the rest of the tenants and the women were collected, and there was another hearty greeting, and another speech from Mallett.