Elserly.  Before sending up his card, he penciled upon it “avec nouvelles a lire,” which words the servant scanned with burning curiosity, but of which she could remember but one, when she tried to repeat them to the grocer’s young man, and this one she pronounced “arick,” as was natural enough in a lady of her nationality.  This much of the message was speedily circulated through the town, and caused at least one curious person to journey to a great library in the city in quest of a Celtic dictionary.  As for the recipient of the card, she met her old lover with a face made more than beautiful by the conflicting emotions which manifested themselves in it.  The interview was short.  Mr. Brown said he had accidentally met the major and had successfully acted as his agent in relieving him from his embarrassments.  He had the pleasure of delivering a letter from the major, and hoped it might make Miss Elserly as happy to receive it as it made him to present it.  Miss Elserly expressed her thanks, and then Mr. Brown said: 

[Illustration:  HE TOOK MISS ELSERLY’S HAND IN HIS OWN, AND STAMMERED, “I CAME TO PLEAD FOR THE MAJOR.”]

“Pardon a bit of egotism and reference to an unpleasant subject, Miss Elserly, Once I told you that I loved you; in this matter of the major’s, I have been prompted solely by a sincere desire for your happiness; and by acting in this spirit I have entirely taken the pain out of my old wound.  Mayn’t I, therefore, as the major’s most sincere well-wisher, enjoy once more your friendship?”

Miss Elserly smiled sweetly, and extended her hand, and Hubert Brown went home a very happy man.  Yet, when he called again, several evenings later, he was not as happy as he had hoped to be in Miss Elserly’s society, for the lady herself, though courteous and cordial, seemed somewhat embarrassed and distrait, and interrupted the young man on several occasions when he spoke in commendation of some good quality of the major’s.  Again he called, and again the same strange embarrassment, though less in degree, manifested itself.  Finally, it disappeared altogether, and Miss Elserly began to recover her health and spirits.  Even then she did not exhibit as tender an interest in the major as the student had hoped she would do; but, as the major’s truest friend, he continued to sound his praises, and to pay Miss Elserly, in the major’s stead, every kind of attention he could devise.

Finally he learned that the major was in the city, and he hastened to inform Miss Elserly, lest, perhaps, she had not heard so soon.  The lady received the announcement with an exquisite blush and downcast eyes, though she admitted that the major had himself apprised her of his safe arrival.  On this particular evening the lady seemed to Mr. Brown to be personally more charming than ever; yet, on the other hand, the old embarrassment was so painfully evident that Mr. Brown made an early departure.  Arrived at home he found a letter from the major which read as follows: