always made him think of a cavalry charge.

"Who goes there?" he cried; but without answering his challenge the
sound came nearer and nearer, and a lackey in full livery dashed up to
the door, and presented him with a note sealed with the blood-red seal
of the castle arms. It was an invitation to dine at the castle with a
company of noblemen and officers of the army. His lordship, who had also
fought at Waterloo, had just learned that a comrade was living on his
estate, and made haste to do him honor, and secure a famous guest for
his dinner party.

The old soldier rose up proudly, and gave the lackey a military salute.

"Tell his lordship," he said, "that I shall report myself at
headquarters, and present my thanks for the honor he has done me."

The lackey galloped off, and the veteran pushed his chair over with his
wooden leg, and clattered across the cottage floor. "Ho, Peggy!" he cried, "did I not say that luck comes and trouble flies
if you only face the enemy long enough? This is the beginning of good
things, I tell you! A hero of Waterloo, and fit to dine with lords and
generals, will certainly have other good fortune coming to him, till he
can keep his wife and daughters like princesses. Just wait a bit and
you shall see!" and he turned hastily away, for his heart came up in his
throat so that he could not speak.

All the rest of that day he sat in the door, brushing and darning and
polishing his stained uniform. It had lain abandoned on the shelf for
many a year, but before night every button was shining like gold, the
scarlet cloth was almost fresh once more, and the old soldier, wrapped
in his faithful cloak, was making his way joyfully across the heathery
moors to the castle quite at the other side.

But when he had fairly reached it, and the servant had shown him
into the drawing-room, his heart almost failed him for a moment. Such
splendor he had never seen before--a thousandth part would have bought
health and happiness for the dear ones he had left with only his brave
goodbye and a fresh rose-bud to comfort them!However, what with the beautiful ladies of the castle gathering round him to ask questions about the battle, and with a seat near his lordship's right hand at dinner, he soon plucked up again, and began to realize how delightful everything was. But that was the very thing that almost 

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