down as though he was ashamed av himsilf.

'"Good-night, Mrs. Bragin," sez I, very cool; "'tis not for me to
interfere wid your _a-moors;_ but you might manage things wid more
dacincy. I'm off to canteen," I sez.

'I turned on my heel an' wint away, swearin' I wud give that man a
dhressin' that wud shtop him messin' about the Married Quarters for
a month an' a week. I had not tuk ten paces before Annie Bragin was
hangin' on to my arm, an' I cud feel that she was shakin' all over.

'"Stay wid me, Mister Mulvaney," sez she; "you're flesh an' blood, at
the least--are ye not?"

'"I'm _all_ that," sez I, an' my anger wint away in a flash. "Will I
want to be asked twice, Annie?"

'Wid that I slipped my arm round her waist, for, begad, I fancied she
had surrindered at discretion, an' the honours av war were mine.

'"Fwhat nonsinse is this?" sez she, dhrawin' hersilf up on the tips
av her dear little toes. "Wid the mother's milk not dhry on your
impident mouth? Let go!" she sez.

'"Did ye not say just now that I was flesh an' blood?" sez I. "I have
not changed since," I sez; an' I kep' my arm where ut was.

'"Your arms to yoursilf!" sez she, an' her eyes sparkild.

'"Sure, 'tis only human nature," sez I, an' I kep' my arm where ut was.