Part 43 (1/2)

”Vas she de boss?” Bateese asked.

”Inside that little box cabin of hers she was.”

”What about the obeyin' bizness, as the prayer book says?” enquired Hardman.

”Inside he did the obeying--outside, she did.”

”By Gar, dat's about vat it should be!” exclaimed Bateese. ”Now, my Emmiline she boss me inside alvays. She say, 'Bateese, you come here.' I come. 'You go dere.' I come too. She say, 'Bateese, vous garcon, vat you make dat splash on de floor?' I say, 'Pardonnez moi, mon ami,' She say, 'All right,' an' I don't make it no more. Den I go outside and make splash all over eff I want to.”

”And do you want to?” said Hardman. For answer Bateese shrugged his shoulders.

”How is Emmiline tonight?” Mrs. Hardman asked. ”I 'aven't seen her since morning.

”She be nice--but I stay 'most too long--she vant you to come and see her again right away.”

”And how is the boy?”

”Fine! Oh, mon fils, he beeg bouncing garcon. Doctare say he weigh ten pound--an' he so goot he almost laff.”

”Bateese, you're crazy.”

”Veil! he open his eye and try to laugh--den--cause he can't, he cry.”

And Bateese hurried off, after his long wait, to tell Emmiline that Mrs.

Hardman was coming.

One Sunday morning several weeks later, the Chaplain was waited on by Bateese. Breakfast was over, and having arranged his books and notes, he was putting on his surplice in preparation for the service he was about to hold in the barrack yard.

”Good morning, Bateese,” said the Chaplain.

”Goot mornin', Padre,” replied the habitant, pulling his forelock.

”What can I do for you?”

The exceeding gravity of Bateese's countenance made his mission very uncertain.

”Nothing wrong, I hope. Is Madame Bateese well?”

”Oui, oui, Padre.”

”And that big bouncing boy of yours?”

”Yes, he tres bien, Monsieur.”

”Well, my man, I'm glad to hear it. Tell me now what you want. You see I haven't much time to lose. The men are gathering for the service.”

”Veil, Monsieur, it ess about de boy. Ve call him George after de Colonel, and Emil after me, and Emmiline want to have him baptize, vat you call christen.”

”I'll be glad to do it, but you are too late for this service.”