He had preserved the same reticence, it may be remembered, about his religion.
And so Frank at last fell asleep on a little iron bedstead, just remembering that it was quite possible he might have another letter from her to-morrow, if Jack had performed his commission immediately.

But he hardly expected to hear till Tuesday.
* * * * * Gertie was up soon after five next morning to get breakfast for her men, since the Major had announced that he would go with Frank to see whether possibly there might not be a job for him too; and as soon as they had gone, very properly went to sleep again on the bed in the sitting-room.
Gertie had a strenuous time of it, in spite of the Major's frequently expressed opinion that women had no idea what work was.

For, first, there was the almost unending labor of providing food and cooking it as well as possible; there was almost a standing engagement of mending and washing clothes; there were numerous arguments to be conducted, on terms of comparative equality, if possible, with landladies or farmers' wives--Gertie always wore a brass wedding-ring and showed it sometimes a little ostentatiously; and, finally, when the company was on the march, it was only fair that she should carry the heavier half of the luggage, in order to compensate for her life of luxury and ease at other times.
Gertie, then, was usually dog-tired, and slept whenever she could get a chance.
It was nearly eight o'clock before she was awakened again by sharp knocking on her door; and on opening it, found the landlady' standing there, examining a letter with great attention.

(It had already been held up to the light against the kitchen window.) "For one of your folks, isn't it, Mrs .-- er--" Gertie took it.

It was written on excellent paper, and directed in a man's handwriting to Mr.
Gregory: "Thank you, Mrs .-- er--" said Gertie.
Then she went back into her room, put the letter carefully away in the drawer of the table and set about her household business.
About eleven o'clock she stepped out for a little refreshment.