Who else would have devised such pretty little ' window boxes, so simple, and artistic, or ■ who else would have hit upon co perfect a. harmony of colour in the flowering plants, i Who else, of that lowly status, would have chosen such muslin curtains or draped > them so prettily. The little bow-windowed band-box of a house was as pretty aa a i Parisiau toy. Tabitha was in the window, working. with Bci93ora and sponge at one of the. flower boxes — never an aphid was allowed to rest on bar dwarf rosea or geraniums. , She -gave a little cry of mixed alarm and I delight as she saw that stalwart figure , come between her and the sunshine. _ " Lor** sakes, Captain Martin, is it you ?" L she ciied. "Tes, Tabby, it is I— and Itv ant to know ■ what you've got to say to me. Do you knew i how a deserter feels when he suddenly. finds himself face to face with his colonel P. I never had such a knock down blow as » when I came home the day bef ore yesterday ) and found you had deserted your post— > you whom I trusted so implicitly." I Tabitha looked at him dumbly— entreatingly —as if she was mutely. supplicating him not to be angry. She took s this reproof with an air of having. thoroughly deserved ifc, of not having any j plea to offer in ber defence. _ " You'll come in and Bit down a bit, I won't you, Captain Martin?" she said r deprecatingly, and then without waiting [ for an answer she bustled out of the i parlour, and soon appeared at the open i door. i " Yes, of course lam coming in. I have. a great deal to say to you— much more I than can be said in the open strset." ; Tabitha ushered him into the little > parlour; so neat, so cool and dainty a , bower, albeit the whole of its contents L would scarcely have realised ten pounds at , an auction. 