. The story of Aaron (so named) : the son of Ben Ali ; told by his friends and acquaintances . r. 192 THE STORY OF AARON. On this portrait the eyes of the soldier lingered,and he turned to it with a quick gesture. Thechildrens grandfather stood watching him. Theold gentlemans attitude was stiff and formal, andthere was an expression of resentment on hisface, for he recognized that the commander, theGeneral of the Army of invasion, stood beforehim. As for the soldier, his stiff red beard bristled,the lines in his weather-beaten face deepened, andhis eyes sparkled. If he had noticed the attitude
. The story of Aaron (so named) : the son of Ben Ali ; told by his friends and acquaintances . r. 192 THE STORY OF AARON. On this portrait the eyes of the soldier lingered,and he turned to it with a quick gesture. Thechildrens grandfather stood watching him. Theold gentlemans attitude was stiff and formal, andthere was an expression of resentment on hisface, for he recognized that the commander, theGeneral of the Army of invasion, stood beforehim. As for the soldier, his stiff red beard bristled,the lines in his weather-beaten face deepened, andhis eyes sparkled. If he had noticed the attitudeor expression of the other he ignored it. That is Little Crotchet, he said, is he? The face of the childrens grandfather softenedand his whole attitude changed. Little Crotchet is not here now, he turned and walked to the window, whichseemed to be blurred by the mist and the rainblown against it by the east wind. The commander took a quick step forward andplaced his hand gently on the grandfathersshoulder. I am sorry, he said. I have a message forLittle HIS EVES LINGERED ON THE PORTRAIT THE ARMY MARCHES BY. 193 If my son had lived, remarked the childrensgrandfather, by way of explanation, he would bea grown man. As it is, he is still a little boy. That is curious, too, said the commander, Since I heard of him, I have always thought ofhim as a little bit of a chap. Something likethat. He turned to the portrait on the wallalmost impatiently. I am forgetting myself, said the childrensgrandfather, holding out his hand, which thesoldier seized and pressed in his quick, nervousway. Sit in this rocking-chair near the hearthand dry yourself. You and I are old acquaint-ances. Years ago you passed through this partof the country on horseback, and stopped hereover night. That is so, replied the commander. I wasjust beginning the business of life. You hadalready begun it. To some extent. I was ahead of you, then,just as you have now outstripped me in t
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