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There is a report that rattlesnakes live in these holes also; but we cannot certify our reader of the truth of this, still it is well to be acquainted with a report that is current among the men of the backwoods. If it be true, we are of opinion that the doggie's family is the most miscellaneous and remarkable on the face of or, as Henri said, in the bo'-els of the earth.
There were a couple of bedrooms overlooking the stable yard which thrown into one would do beautifully. With feminine tact she dangled these splendours before Doggie's infatuated eyes, instinctively choosing the opportunity of his gratitude for soothing treatment. Doggie telegraphed for Sir Owen Julius, R.A., Surveyor to the Cathedral, the only architect of his acquaintance.
He looked up swiftly. Caught the shadow of a shadow. But it was enough. It was Jeanne. She had kept her promise. The men responded incoherently, waving their hands, and Doggie's shout of "Merci!" was lost. But though he knew, with a wonderful throbbing knowledge, that Jeanne's cry was meant for him alone, he was thrilled by his comrades' instant response to Jeanne's voice.
"And you know everything about Phineas," said McPhail grimly. "Ay, ay, laddie," he sighed, "I ken it all. When you're in Tophet, a sympathetic Tophetuan with a wee drop of the milk of human kindness is more comfort than a radiant angel who showers down upon you, from the celestial Fortnum and Mason's, potted shrimps and caviare." The sombreness cleared for a moment from Doggie's young brow.
And whatever you may say, you got wounded in the service of your country." It was on Doggie's agitated lips to shout a true "I didn't!" For that was the devil of it. Had he been so wounded, he could have purred contentedly while accepting the genuine hero's meed of homage and consolation. But he had left his country's service to enter that of Jeanne.
She sympathized. She said, however: "Oliver's a rough diamond." "He's one of Nature's non-gentlemen," said Doggie. She laughed and patted his arm. "Clever lad!" she said. So Doggie's wounded vanity was healed. He confided to her some of his difficulties as to the peacock and ivory room. "Bear with the old paper for my sake," she said. "It's something you can do for me.
He welcomed enemy flares and star-shells and excursions and alarms. They kept him from thinking, enabled him to pass the time. But in the dead, lonely, silent dark, the hours were like centuries. He dreaded them. To-night they fled like minutes. It was a pitch-black night, spitting fine rain. It was one of Doggie's private grievances that it invariably rained when he was on sentry duty.
"My holy aunt!" he cried, "there's another of 'em. It's Doggie! You were in the old picture, and I'm blessed if you weren't wearing the same beautiful grey suit. How do, Doggie?" He gripped Doggie's hand. Doggie's lips grew white. "I'm glad to welcome you back, Oliver," he said. "But I would have you to know that my name is Marmaduke." "Sooner be called Doggie myself, old chap," said Oliver.
"Laddie, laddie," said Phineas reproachfully, "the facts of my being a guest beneath your roof and my humble military rank, render it difficult for me to make an appropriate reply." Doggie's rage had spent itself. These rare fits were short-lived and left him somewhat unnerved. "I'm sorry, Phineas. As you say, you're my guest. And as to your uniform, God knows I honour every man who wears it."
But Phineas had knocked all the dreams out of Jeanne. The British happy-go-lucky ways of marriage are not those of the French bourgeoisie, and Jeanne had no notion of British happy-go-lucky ways. Phineas had knocked the dream out of Jeanne by kicking Doggie out of her sphere. And there was a girl in England in Doggie's sphere whom he was to marry. She knew it.
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