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slipped, and the lady was only just in time to withdraw her foot and save herself.
Sir William Farrell, who had seen the little incident, ran forward, while the man who had been placing the ladder went to the horse, which was capering and trying to rear in his eagerness to be off.
Sir William raised the ladder, and set it firmly against the coach.
'I think you might risk it now,' he said, raising his eyes pleasantly to the young person above him.
'Thank you,' said a shy voice. Mrs. Sarratt turned round and descended. Meanwhile the man holding the ladder saw an officer in khaki standing on the top of the coach, and heard him address a word of laughing encouragement to the lady. And no sooner had her feet touched the ground than he was at her side in a trice.
'Thank you, Sir!' he said, saluting. 'My wife was very nearly thrown off. That horse has been giving trouble all the way.'
'Must be content with what you can get, in war-time!' said the other smiling, as he raised his hat to the young woman he had befriended, whom he now saw plainly. 'And there are so few visitors at present in these parts that what horses there are don't get enough to do.'
The face turned upon him was so exquisite in line and colour that Sir William, suddenly struck, instead of retreating to his car, lingered while the soldier husband--a lieutenant, to judge from the stripes on his cuff,--collected a rather large amount of luggage from the top of the coach.
'You must have had a lovely drive along Windermere,' said Sir William politely. 'Let me carry that bag for you. You're stopping here?'
'Yes--' said Mrs. Sarratt, distractedly, watching to see that the luggage was all right. 'Oh, George, do take care of that parcel!'
'All right.'
But she had spoken too late. As her husband, having handed over two suit cases to Mrs. Weston's fourteen-year old boy, came towards her with a large brown paper parcel, the string of it slipped, Mrs. Sarratt gave a little cry, and but for her prompt rush to his assistance, its contents would have descended into the road. But through a gap in the paper various tin and china objects were disclosed.
'That's your "cooker," Nelly,' said her husband laughing. 'I told you it would bust the show!'
But her tiny, deft fingers rapidly repaired the damage, and re-tied the string while he assisted her. The coach drove off, and Sir William patiently held the bag. Then she insisted on carrying the parcel herself, and the lieutenant relieved Sir William.
'Awfully obliged to you!' he said gratefully. 'Good evening! We're stopping here for a bit' He pointed to the open door of the lodging-house, where Mrs. Weston and the boy were grappling with the luggage.
'May I ask--' Sir William's smile as he looked from one to the other expressed that loosening of conventions in which we have all lived since the war--'Are you home on leave, or--'
'I came home to be married,' said the young soldier, flushing slightly, while his eyes crossed those of the young girl beside him. 'I've got a week more.'
'You've been out some time?'
'Since last November. I got a scratch in the Ypres fight in April--oh, nothing--a small flesh wound--but they gave me a month's leave, and my medical board has only just passed me.'
'Lanchesters?' said Sir William, looking at his cap. The other nodded pleasantly.
'Well, I am sure I hope you'll have good weather here,' said Sir William, stepping back, and once more raising his hat to the bride. 'And--if there was Anything I could do to help your stay--'
'Oh, thank you, Sir, but--'
The pair smiled again at each other. Sir William understood, and smiled too. A more engaging couple he thought he had never seen. The young man was not exactly handsome, but he had a pair of charming hazel eyes, a good-tempered mouth, and a really fine brow. He was tall too, and well proportioned, and looked the pick of physical fitness. 'Just the kind of splendid stuff we are sending out by the ship-load,' thought the elder man, with a pang of envy--'And the girl's lovely!'
She was at that moment bowing to him, as she followed her husband across the road. A thought occurred to Sir William, and he pursued her.
'I wonder--' he said diffidently--'if you care for boating--if you would like to boat on the lake--'
'Oh, but it isn't allowed!' She turned on him a pair of astonished eyes.
'Not in general. Ah, I see you know these parts already. But I happen to know the owner of the boathouse. Shall I get you leave?'
'Oh, that would be delightful!' she said, her face kindling with a child's joyousness. 'That is kind of you! Our name is Sarratt--my husband is Lieutenant Sarratt.'
--'Of the