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breathing。
〃I want my morning rations；〃 he crooned； as he stumped forward to his
chair。 〃The cold nips me without 'em。 See to my fingers！〃 He held
out his distorted hands； all blue at the tips； wrinkled and gnarled； with
huge； projecting knuckles。
〃It's nigh ready；〃 answered the girl； gazing at him with wonder in her
eyes。 〃Don't you know who I am； granduncle？ I am Norah Brewster
from Witham。〃
〃Rum is warm；〃 mumbled the old man； rocking to and fro in his chair；
〃and schnapps is warm； and there's 'eat in soup； but it's a dish o' tea for me。
What did you say your name was？〃
〃Norah Brewster。〃
〃You can speak out； lass。 Seems to me folk's voices isn't as loud as
they used。〃
〃I'm Norah Brewster； uncle。 I'm your grandniece come down from
Essex way to live with you。〃
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〃You'll be brother Jarge's girl！ Lor； to think o' little Jarge having a
girl！〃 He chuckled hoarsely to himself； and the long； stringy sinews of
his throat jerked and quivered。
〃I am the daughter of your brother George's son；〃 said she； as she
turned the bacon。
〃Lor； but little Jarge was a rare un！〃 he continued。 〃Eh； by Jimini；
there was no chousing Jarge。 He's got a bull pup o' mine that I gave him
when I took the bounty。 You've heard him speak of it； likely？〃
〃Why； grandpa George has been dead this twenty year；〃 said she；
pouring out the tea。
〃Well； it was a bootiful pupaye； a well…bred un； by Jimini！ I'm cold
for lack o' my rations。 Rum is good； and so is schnapps； but I'd as lief
have tea as either。〃
He breathed heavily while he devoured his food。 〃It's a middlin'
goodish way you've come；〃 said he at last。 〃Likely the stage left
yesternight。〃
〃The what； uncle？〃
〃The coach that brought you。〃
〃Nay； I came by the mornin' train。〃
〃Lor； now； think o' that！ You ain't afeard o' those newfangled things！
By Jimini； to think of you comin' by railroad like that！ What's the world
a… comin' to！〃
There was silence for some minutes while Norah sat stirring her tea
and glancing sideways at the bluish lips and champing jaws of her
companion。
〃You must have seen a deal o' life； uncle；〃 said she。 〃It must seem a
long； long time to you！〃
〃Not so very long neither。 I'm ninety； come Candlemas； but it don't
seem long since I took the bounty。 And that battle； it might have been
yesterday。 Eh； but I get a power o' good from my rations！〃 He did
indeed look less worn and colourless than when she first saw him。 His
face was flushed and his back more erect。
〃Have you read that？〃 he asked； jerking his head towards the cutting。
〃Yes； uncle； and I'm sure you must be proud of it。〃
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〃Ah； it was a great day for me！ A great day！ The Regent was there；
and a fine body of a man too！ ‘The ridgment is proud of you；' says he。
‘And I'm proud of the ridgment；' say I。 ‘A damned good answer too！'
says he to Lord Hill； and they both bu'st out a…laughin'。 But what be you
a…peepin' out o' the window for？〃
〃Oh； uncle； here's a regiment of soldiers coming down the street with
the band playing in front of them。〃
〃A ridgment； eh？ Where be my glasses？ Lor； but I can hear the
band； as plain as plain！ Here's the pioneers an' the drum…major！ What
be their number； lass？〃 His eyes were shining and his bony yellow
fingers； like the claws of some fierce old bird； dug into her shoulder。
〃They don't seem to have no number； uncle。 They've something
wrote on their shoulders。 Oxfordshire； I think it be。〃
〃Ah； yes！〃 he growled。 〃I heard as they'd dropped the numbers and
given them newfangled names。 There they go； by Jimini！ They're
young mostly； but they hain't forgot how to march。 They have the swing…
aye； I'll say that for them。 They've got the swing。〃 He gazed after them
until the last files had turned the corner and the measured tramp of their
marching had died away in the distance。
He had just regained his chair when the door opened and a gentleman
stepped in。
〃Ah； Mr。 Brewster！ Better to…day？〃 he asked。
〃Come in； doctor！ Yes； I'm better。 But there's a deal o' bubbling in
my chest。 It's all them toobes。 If I could but cut the phlegm； I'd be right。
Can't you give me something to cut the phlegm？〃
The doctor； a grave…faced young man； put his fingers to the furrowed；
blue…corded wrist。
〃You must be careful；〃 he said。 〃You must take no liberties。〃 The
thin tide of life seemed to thrill rather than to throb under his finger。
The old man chuckled。
〃I've got brother Jarge's girl to look after me now。 She'll see I don't
break barracks or do what I hadn't ought to。 Why； darn my skin； I knew
something was amiss！
〃With what？〃
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〃Why； with them soldiers。 You saw them pass； doctoreh？ They'd
forgot their stocks。 Not one on 'em had his stock on。〃 He croaked and
chuckled for a long time over his discovery。 〃It wouldn't ha' done for the
Dook！〃 he muttered。 〃No； by Jimini！ the Dook would ha' had a word
there。〃
The doctor smiled。 〃Well； you are doing very well；〃 said he。 〃I'll
look in once a week or so； and see how you are。〃 As Norah followed him
to the door； he beckoned her outside。
〃He is very weak；〃 he whispered。 〃If you find him failing you must
send for me。〃
〃What ails him； doctor？〃
〃Ninety years ails him。 His arteries are pipes of lime。 His heart is
shrunken and flabby。 The man is worn out。〃
Norah stood watching the brisk figure of the young doctor； and
pondering over these new responsibilities which had come upon her。
When she turned a tall； brown…faced artilleryman；