OF THE SPEAR 



" Yes ; I had always looked on 

 Major Calvert as the best of my 

 friends, as he was Mr. Austin's. 

 Indeed," she added, with a slight 

 laugh, " I would almost sooner have 

 gone to him for advice in a difficulty 

 than to you, mamma. With him I 

 always felt that I was with an old 

 friend. To-day, coming back from 

 pig-sticking on the elephant with 

 him, I was chaffing him for being so 

 staid, when in reality his mind is full 

 of fun. Then I saw a look cross his 

 eyes that made me ask — without 

 thinking — if he was in any trouble. 

 He told me then the sad sorrowful 

 little story of his life, which he has 

 never spoken of, even to Mr. Austin. 

 And when he told me that it was my 

 kindness and sympathy had drawn 

 91 



