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At last we reached the minister's house, and dismounted before the door Diccon led the horses away, and I handed reat room The minister tarried but for a feords anent some precautions that I meant to take, and then betook himself to his own chamber As he went out of the door Diccon entered the roohed Mistress Jocelyn Percy "What was the hty business, Captain Percy, that o to court, sir, to be taught gallantry"

"Where should a wife go to be taught obedience?" I demanded "You knohere I went and why I could not keep tryst Why did you not obey my orders?"

She opened wide her eyes "Your orders? I never received any,--not that I should have obeyed them if I had Knohere you went? I know neither why nor where you went!"

I leaned my hand upon the table, and looked from her to Diccon

"I was sent by the Governor to quell a disturbance ast the nearest Indians The woods today have been full of danger Moreover, the plan that we o this one and why, and also arden Were you not told this, madam?"

"No!" she cried

I looked at Diccon "I told madam that you were called away on business," he said sullenly "I told her that you were sorry you could not go with her to the woods"

"You told her nothing more?"

"No"

"May I ask why?"

He threw back his head "I did not believe the Paspaheghs would trouble her," he answered, with hardihood, "and you had n't seen fit, sir, to tell ht it a pity that she should lose her pleasure for nothing"

I had been hunting the day before, and my whip yet lay upon the table "I have known you for a hardy rogue," I said, with my hand upon it; "now I know you for a faithless one as well If I gave you credit for all the vices of the soldier, I gave you credit also for his virtues I was the ht pardon, but the soldier who is faithless to his trust"-I raised the whip and brought it down again and again across his shoulders He stood without a word, his face dark red and his hands clenched at his sides For a minute or more there was no sound in the room save the sound of the blows; then h! You have beaten hio, sir!"