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Returning to the shadow by the house, Farnham's first question was, "Is anybody hurt?" "I've got a little bark knocked off," said one quiet fellow, who came forward showing a ghastly face bathed in blood from a wound in his forehead. Farnham looked at him a moment, and then, running to his door, opened it and called Budsey, who had been hiding in the cellar, praying to all his saints.
He will tell you what is to be done." Sam walked away in the direction indicated, and Farnham went into the house. Some letters were lying on the table in the library. He had just begun to read them when Budsey entered and announced: "That young person." Maud came in flushed with the fresh air and rapid walking.
"It is not so good as your Santa Rita," he said; "but the exercise in the night air will give it a relish." When the wine came, the men filled and drank, in sober American fashion, without words; but in the heart of each there was the thought of eternal friendship, founded upon brave and loyal service. "Budsey," said Farnham, "give all the men a glass of this wine."
But Budsey at that moment announced luncheon, and they yielded to Farnham's eager importunity, and remained to share his repast. They went to the dining-room, leaving Sleeny more than content.
Before taking the train, he laid his complaint of being stopped on the road before the chief of police, who promised to make vigorous inquisition. Farnham remained several days in New York, and on his return, one warm, bright evening, he found his table prepared and the grave Budsey waiting behind his chair. He ate his dinner hastily and in silence, with no great zest.
"Half of 'em said they was temperance and wouldn't 'ave any. Some of the rest said you will excuse me, sir as it was d poor cider," and Budsey went out of the room with a suspicious convulsion of the back. "I'll go on that," said Mr. Temple. "Goodnight. I think we will have good news in the morning.
Budsey evidently regarded him with no favorable eye; he said to Sleeny, "This person says he comes from Matchin's; do you know him?" "Yes, it's all right," said Sam, who could say nothing less; but when Budsey had left them, he turned to Offitt with anything but welcome in his eye. "Well, you've come, after all." "Yes," Offitt answered, with an uneasy laugh. "Curiosity gets us all, from Eve down.
Farnham returned to his garden, and then divided his men into squads for patrolling the neighborhood. They waited for half an hour, and, finding all was still quiet, then made arrangements for passing the night. Farnham made Temple go into the house with him, and asked Budsey to bring some sherry.
Farnham gazed after her a moment, admiring the undulating line from the small hat to the long and narrow train which dragged on the smooth stones of the walk. He then returned to the library. Budsey was mending the fire. "If you please, sir," he said, "Mrs. Belding's man came over to ask, would you dine there this evening, quite informal." "Why didn't he come in?" "I told him you were engaged."
When Sam presented himself at Captain Farnham's house the next morning, he was admitted by Budsey, who took him to the library and showed him the work he was to do. The heat of the room had shrunk the wood of the heavy doors of carved oak so that the locks were all out of position. Farnham was seated by his desk, reading and writing letters.
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