’Heigh，boys!’criedGrandfatherBridgeman，’it’stimebeforedinnerto-day。’
Heliftedthecrumpledletter，andthumpedasurprising’Hurrah!’
Upjumpedalltheechoingyoungones，butJohn，withthestarchinhisthroat，Said，’Father，beforewemakenoises，let’sseethecontentsofthenote。’
Theoldmanglaredathimharshly，andtwinklingmadeanswer：’Toobad!
JohnBridgeman，I’malwaysthewhisky，andyouarethewater，mylad!’
Butsoonitwasknownthro’thehouse，andthehouseranoverforjoy，Thatnews，goodnews，greatmarvels，hadcomefromthesoldierboy；
YoungTom，thelucklessscapegrace，offshootofMethodistJohn；
Hisgrandfather’seveningtale，whomtheoldmanhailedashisson。
Andtheoldman’sshoutofpridewasashoutofhisctory，too；
Forhecalledhisaffectionamethod：theneighbours’opinionsheknew。
Meantime，fromthemorningtableremongthestoutbreakfastcheer，Thedrinkofthethreegenerations，themilk，thetea，andthebeerAloneinitsgenerousreadingofpintsstoodtheGrandfather’sjug，Thewomenforsightofthemissecamepressingtocoaxandtohug。
Hescatteredthemquick，withabussandasmack；thereuponhebeganDersionswithJohn’slittleSarah：onSunday，thenaughtyoldman!
Thenmessengersspedtothemaltster，theauctioneer，miller，andallThesevensonsofthefarmerwhohousedintherangeofhiscall。
Likewisethemarrieddaughters，threeplentifulladies，primecooks，Whobowedtohimwhiletheycondemned，inmeekhopetostandhighinhisbooks。
’John’swifeisafoolatapudding，’theysaid，andthelightcartsuphillWentmerrily，floutingtheSabbath：forpuddingswellmademendawill。
Thedaywasavan-birdofsummer：therobinstillpiped，buttheblue，Asawarmanddreamypalacewithvoicesoflarksringingthro’，Lookeddownasifwistfullyeyeingtheblossomsthatfellfromitslap：
Adaytosweetenthejuices：adaytoquickenthesap。
Allroundtheshadowyorchardslopedmeadowsingold，andthedearShyoletsbreathedtheirheartsout：themaidenbreathoftheyear!
Fulltimetherewasbeforedinnertobringfifteenofhisblood，Tositattheoldman’stable：theyfoundthatthedinnerwasgood。
Butwhowasshebythelilacsandpouringlaburnumsconcealed，WhenundertheblossomingapplethechairoftheGrandfatherwheeled？
Sheheardonelittlechildcrying，’DearbraveCousinTom!’asitleapt；
Thenmurmuredshe：’Letmesparethem!’andpassedroundthewalnuts，andwept。
YetnotfromsighthadsheslippederefeminineeyescoulddetectThefigureofMaryCharlworth。’It’sjustwhatweallmightexpect，’
Wasuttered：and：’Didn’tItellyou？’OfMarytherumourresounds，Thatsheisnowherownmistress，andmistressoffethousandpounds。
’Twasshe，theysay，whocruellysentyoungTomtothewar。
MissMary，wethankyounow!Ifyouknewwhatwe’rethankingyoufor!
But，’Haveherin：letherhearit，’calledGrandfatherBridgeman，elate，WhileMary’sblack-glovedfingershungtremblingwithflightonthegate。
Despitethewomen’sremonstrance，twolittleones，lighterthandeer，Wereloosed，andMary，imprisoned，herwholefacewhiteasatear，Cameforwardwithculpritfootsteps。Herpunishmentwastocommence：
Thepityinherpalesagetheyreadinadifferentsense。
’Youperhapsmayrememberafellow，MissCharlworth，asortofblacksheep，’
Theoldmanturnedhistonguetoironicalutterancedeep：
’HecameofaMethodistdad，soitwasn’thisfaultifhekicked。
Heearnedasadreputation，butMethodistsaremortalstrict。
HisnamewasTom，and，dashme!butBridgeman!Ithinkyoumightadd：
Whateverhewas，bearinmindthathecameofaMethodistdad。’
Thispreludedismallylengthened，tillMary，starting，exclaimed，’Aletter，Sir，fromyourgrandson？’’TomBridgemanthatrascalisnamed，’
Theoldmananswered，andfurther，thewordsthatsentTomtotheranksRepeatedaswordsofapersontowhomtheyallowedmightythanks。
ButMaryneverblushed：withhereyesontheletter，shesate，Andtwiceinterruptinghimfaltered，’Thedate，mayIask，Sir，thedate？’
’Why，that’swhatIneverlookatinaletter，’thefarmerreplied：
’Factsfirst!andnowI’llbeparson。’TheBridgemanwomendescriedAqueronMary’seyebrows。Oneturned，andwhileshiftinghercomb，Saidlowtoasister：’I’mcertainsheknowsmorethanweaboutTom。
Shewantshimnowhe’sahero!’Thesame，resumingherplace，BeggedMarytocheckthemthemomentshefounditatediouscase。
Thenasamastiffswallowsthesnarlingnoisesofcats，Thevoiceofthefarmeropened。’“Threecheers，andoffwithyourhats!“-
That’sTom。“We’vebeatenthem，Daddy，andtoughworkitwas，tobesure!
Aregularstand-upcombat：eighthourssmellingpowderandgore。
IentereditSerjeant-Major，“——andnowhecommandsasalute，AndcarriestheflagofoldEngland!Heigh!seehimliftfoesonhisfoot!
’——Anofficer!ay，MissCharlworth，heis，orheissotobe；
You’llownwarisn’tsuchhumbug：andGlorymeanssomething，yousee。
“Butdon’tsayaword，“hecontinues，“againstthebraveFrenchanymore。“-
Thatstoptme：we’llnowmarchtogether。Icouldn’treadfurtherbefore。
That“braveFrench“Icouldn’tstomach。Hecan’tseetheircunningtogetUsBritonstofighttheirbattles，whilebesthalfthewinningstheynet!’
Theoldmansneered，andreadforward。Itwasofthatdesperatefight；-
TheMuscotestolethro’themist-wreathsthatwrappedthechillInkermannheight，Wherestoodoursilentoutposts：oldEnglandwasinthemthatday!
Osharpworkedhisruddywrinkles，asiftothebreathofthefrayTheymoved!Hesatbareheaded：hislonghairoverhimslowSwungwhiteasthesilkybog-flowersinpurpleheath-hollowsthatgrow。
AndlouderatTom’sfirstperson：acuteandinthunderthe’I’
Invadedtheearwithawhinnyoftriumph，thatseem’dtodefyThehostsoftheworld。Allheated，whatwonderhelittlecouldbrookTocatchthesightofMary’sdemurepuritanicallook？
Andstillasheledtheonslaught，histreacherousside-shotshesentAtherwhowasfightingabattleasfierce，andwhosatthereunbent。
’“Westoodinline，andlikehedgehogstheRussiansrolledunderusthick。
Theyfrightenedmethere。“——He’snocoward；forwhen，Miss，theycameatthequick，Thesight，heswears，wasabreakfast——“Mystomachfelttight：inaglimpseIsawyousnoringathomewiththedearcuddled-uplittleimps。
Andthenlikethewinterbrickfieldsatmidnight，hotfirelengthenedout。
Ourfellowswerejustleashedbloodhounds：noheartofthelotfacedabout。
’“Andonlythatgrumbler，BobHarris，remarkedthatwestoodonetoten：
’Yefool，’saysMickGrady，’justtell’emtheyknowtocomplimentmen!’
AndIsangoutyouroldwords：’Iftheoppositesideisn’tGod’s，Heigh!afteryou’vecountedadozen，thepluckiestladshavetheodds。’
Ping-pingflewtheenemies’pepper：theColonelroared，Forward，andweWentatthem。’Twasfirstlikeablanket：andthenalongplungeinthesea。
’“Well，nowaboutmeandtheFrenchman：ithappenedIcan’ttellyouhow：
And，Grandfather，hear，ifyouloveme，andputasideprejudicenow“：
Heneversays“Grandfather“——Tomdon’t——saveit’saseriousthing。
“Well，thereweresomepitsfortherifles，justdugonourFrench-
leaningwing：
Andbackwards，andforwards，andbackwardswewent，andatlastI
wasvexed，AndsworeIwouldneversurrenderafootwhentheRussianschargednext。
’“Iknowthatlife’sworthkeeping。“——Ay，soitis，lad；soitis!-
“Butmylifebelongstoawoman。“——DoesthatmeanHerMajesty，Miss？-
“TheseRussianscamelumpingandgrinning：they’refierceatit，thoughtheyareblocks。
Ourfellowswereprettywellpumped，andlookedsharpforthelittleFrenchcocks。
Lord，didn’tweprayfortheircrowing!whenoverus，onthehill-
top，Beholdthefirstlineofthemskipping，likekangaroosseenonthehop。
’“Thatsentmeintoapassion，tothinkofthemspyingourflight!“
Heigh，Tom!you’veBridgemanblood，boy!And，“’Facethem!’I
shouted：’Allright；
Sure，Serjeant，we’lltaketheirshotdacent，likegentlemen，’Gradyreplied。
Aballinhismouth，andthenobleoldIrishmandroppedbymyside。
Thentherewasjustaninstanttosavemyself，whenashortwheezeOfbloodylungsunderthesmoke，andared-coatcrawleduponhisknees。
’“’TwasEnsignBaynesofourparish。“——Ah，ah，MissCharlworth，theoneOurTomfoughtforayounglady？Come，nowwe’vegotintothefun!-
“Ishoulderedhim：heprimedhispistol，andItrailedmymusket，prepared。“
Why，that’safinepick-a-backforye，tomaketwentyRussianslookscared!
“Theycame——nevermindhowmany：wecouldn’thaverunverywell，Wefoughtbacktoback：’facetoface，ourlasttime!’hesaid，smiling，andfell。
’“ThenIstrovewildforhisbody：thebeggarssawglitteringrings，WhichIvowedtosendtohismother。Igotsomehardknocksandsharpstings，Butfeltthemnomorethanangel，ordel，exceptinthewind。
IknowthatIsworeataRussianforshowinghisteeth，andhegrinnedTheharder：quick，asfromheaven，amanonahorserodebetween，Andfired，andswunghisbrightsabre：Ican’twriteyoumoreofthescene。
’“Buthalfinhisarms，andhalfathisstirrup，heboremerightforth，Andpitchedmeamongmyoldcomrades：beforeIcouldtellsouthfromnorth，Hecaughtmyhandup，andkissedit!Don’teverletanymanspeakAwordagainstFrenchmen，Inearhim!Ican’tfindhisname，tho’I
seek。
ButFrench，andaGeneral，surelyhewas，and，Godblesshim!thro’
himI’velearnttoloveawholenation。“’Theancientmanpaused，winkingdim。
Acuriouslook，halfwoeful，wasseenonhisfaceasheturnedHiseyesuponeachofhischildren，likeonewhobutfaintlydiscernedHisoldselfinanoldmirror。Thengatheringsenseinhisfist，Hesoundedithardonhisknee-cap。’Yourhand，Tom，theFrenchfellowkissed!
Hekissedmyboy’soldpounder!Isayhe’sagentleman!’StraightTheletterhetossedtoonedaughter；badehertheremainderrelate。
Tomproperlystatedhispraisesinfacts，buttheladypreferredTodeckthenarrationwithbrackets，anddropheradditionalword。
WhatnoblerChristiannaturesthesewomencouldboast，who，’twasknown，Oncespatatthenameoftheirnephew，andnowmadehispraisestheirown!
Theletteratlastwasfinished，thehearersbreathedfreely，andsignWasgen，’Tom’shealth!’——Quoththefarmer：’Eh，Miss？areyouweakinthespine？’
ForMaryhadsunk，andherbodywasshaking，asifinafit。
Tom’slettersheheld，andherthumb-nailthemonthwhentheletterwaswritFast-dinted，whileshehungsobbing：’O，see，Sir，theletterisold!
O，donotbetoohappy!’——’IfIunderstandyou，I’mbowled!’
SaidGrandfatherBridgeman，’anddowngomywickets!——nothappy!
whenhere，Here’sTomliketomarryhisGeneral’sdaughter——orwidow——I’llswear!
’Iwagerheknowshowtostrut，too!It’sallonthecardsthattheQueenWillaskhimtoBuckinghamPalace，tosaywhathe’sdoneandhe’sseen。
ctoria’sfondofhersoldiers：andshe’sgotanoseforafight。
IfTomtellsacleverishstory——thereissuchathingasaknight!
Anddon’thelookroguishandhandsome!——Toseeagirlsnellingthere-
ByGeorge，Miss，it’sclearthatyou’rejealous’——’Ilovehim!’sheansweredhisstare。
’Yes!now!’breathedthevoiceofawoman——’Ah!now!’quer’dlowthereply。
’And“now“’sjustabittoolate，soit’snouseyourpipingyoureye，’
Thefarmeraddedbluffly：’OldLawyerCharlworthwasrich；
YoufollowedhisinstructionsinkickingTomintotheditch。
Ifyou’resuchadutifuldaughter，thatdoesn’tproveTomisafool。
Forgeandforget’smymotto!andhere’smygroggrowingcool!’
’But，Sir，’Maryfaintlyrepeated：’forfourlongweeksIhavefailedTocomeandcastonyoumyburden；suchgriefforyoualwaysprevailed!
Myhearthassobledforyou!’Theoldmanburstonherspeech：
’You’vechosenalikelytime，Miss!aprettyoccasiontopreach!’
Andwasitnotoutrageous，thatnow，ofalltimes，oneshouldcomeWithincomprehensiblepity!FarbetterhadMarybeendumb。
Butwhenagainshestammeredinthisbewilderingway，Thefarmernolongercouldbearit，andbeggedhertogo，ortostay，Butnottobewhimperingnonsenseatsuchatime。Prickedbyagoad，’Twasyouwhosenthimtoglory：-you’vecomeheretoreapwhatyousowed。