people of Overcombe, the spectacle of the corporal uncovered. He
had never been seen in public without the hat and the handkerchief
since his return in Ninety-four; and strange stories were told of
the ghastliness of his appearance bare-headed, a little boy who had
accidentally beheld him going to bed in that state having been
frightened into fits.

'Well, if the young woman don't want to see yer head, maybe she'd
like to hear yer arm?' continued Cripplestraw, earnest to please
her.

'Hey?' said the corporal.

'Your arm hurt too?' cried Anne.

'Knocked to a pummy at the same time as my head,' said Tullidge
dispassionately.

'Rattle yer arm, corpel, and show her,' said Cripplestraw.

'Yes, sure,' said the corporal, raising the limb slowly, as if the
glory of exhibition had lost some of its novelty, though he was
willing to oblige. Twisting it mercilessly about with his right
hand he produced a crunching among the bones at every motion,
Cripplestraw seeming to derive great satisfaction from the ghastly
sound.

'How very shocking!' said Anne, painfully anxious for him to leave
off.