Chapter 15

Seeing that Jim lived several miles from the widow, Margery was
rather surprised, and even felt a slight sinking of the heart, when
her new acquaintance appeared at her door so soon as the evening of
the following Monday. She asked Margery to walk out with her, which
the young woman readily did.

'I am come at once,' said the widow breathlessly, as soon as they
were in the lane, 'for it is so exciting that I can't keep it. I
must tell it to somebody, if only a bird, or a cat, or a garden
snail.'

'What is it?' asked her companion.

'I've pulled grass from my husband's grave to cure it--wove the
blades into true lover's knots; took off my shoes upon the sod; but,
avast, my shipmate,--'

'Upon the sod--why?'

'To feel the damp earth he's in, and make the sense of it enter my
soul. But no. It has swelled to a head; he is going to meet me at
the Yeomanry Review.'

'The master lime-burner?'

The widow nodded.

'When is it to be?'

'To-morrow. He looks so lovely in his accoutrements! He's such a
splendid soldier; that was the last straw that kindled my soul to say
yes. He's home from Exonbury for a night between the drills,'
continued Mrs. Peach. 'He goes back to-morrow morning for the
Review, and when it's over he's going to meet me. But, guide my
heart, there he is!'

Her exclamation had rise in the sudden appearance of a brilliant red
uniform through the trees, and the tramp of a horse carrying the
wearer thereof. In another half-minute the military gentleman would
have turned the corner, and faced them.

'He'd better not see me; he'll think I know too much,' said Margery
precipitately. 'I'll go up here.'

The widow, whose thoughts had been of the same cast, seemed much
relieved to see Margery disappear in the plantation, in the midst of
a spring chorus of birds. Once among the trees, Margery turned her
head, and, before she could see the rider's person she recognized the
horse as Tony, the lightest of three that Jim and his partner owned,
for the purpose of carting out lime to their customers.

Jim, then, had joined the Yeomanry since his estrangement from
Margery. A man who had worn the young Queen Victoria's uniform for
seven days only could not be expected to look as if it were part of
his person, in the manner of long-trained soldiers; but he was a
well-formed young fellow, and of an age when few positions came amiss
to one who has the capacity to adapt himself to circumstances.

Meeting the blushing Mrs. Peach (to whom Margery in her mind sternly
denied the right to blush at all), Jim alighted and moved on with
her, probably at Mrs. Peach's own suggestion; so that what they said,
how long they remained