Dudley crammed rather a large piece of cake into his mouth, and dashed out of the room; and a few minutes later dragged in the would-be soldier.

“We’ve settled you can go, Rob,” said Roy, with a little of his masterful air about him; “only you’re to go as our soldier.  I think if I had had a good, broad, strong chest and never broke my leg, I should have enlisted, but you can go instead of me.  Are you glad?”

“I’m sorry to leave you, Master Roy, but I’d dearly like to go.”

“We must tell granny and Aunt Judy, and see what they say first.  But I’m sure they’d like you to go.”

No objection was made.  Miss Bertram was rather pleased than otherwise.

“He will make a good soldier,” she said, when talking it over with the boys; “he is a steady, reliable lad, with not too many ideas of his own, and implicitly obedient.”

“Is that what makes a good soldier?” asked Roy.  “I thought it was dash and bravery.”

“Dash is a dangerous quality.  Steady perseverance is better, Jonathan!”

The next few days were most exciting ones for the boys.  Roy and Rob had many a long talk together, and very earnest and serious subjects were touched upon.  Rob had little time left to bid his friends farewell, but he went to old Principle, as a matter of course.

“Yes,” said the old man, a little proudly; “all the younger folks going out in life comes to me for a parting word.  They laughs at me and my principles, but I’m proud of my nickname, and ’tis only right principles will make a man live right, and they knows it.  What can I say to you, lad, but fear God and honor the Queen and those in authority under her.  Never be afraid of holding to the right and denouncing the wrong, and may God Almighty take your body and soul in His keeping until we meet again.”

Rob’s last day came, and an hour before his departure, in company with his friend, the sergeant, he came up to the Manor to bid them all farewell.  Roy had some farewell words with him in the privacy of his bedroom.

“We shall miss you awfully,” he said, walking up and down the room to hide his emotion; “and it makes me wish I had your chance.  But you’ll remember, Rob, I look to you to be a rattling good soldier, much better than I should have been, and you’ll be sure to do something grand and brave the very first opportunity, won’t you?  You must get the Victoria Cross, of course, and the account of you must be in the newspapers, so that we can read about you.  And I shall pray that God will keep you safe, Rob.  I hope you’ll never have an arm or leg shot off, though I think that would be better than having them cut off.  I hope you’ll come back safe and sound.  When shall we see you again?”

“The sergeant told me I should get a month or six weeks’ leave this time next year, Master Roy.”

“A year is a very long time.  Rob, if I should die before I grow up, I want you to promise me that you will be Dudley’s servant instead of mine.  He will be master of Norrington Court, then, and I want you to live there.”