The vigil [Night watches, Part 8.]

In a modest cottage, nervous Mr. Farrer arrives to ask for Miss Ward’s hand, only to be met by her formidable father, a grizzled ex‑Sergeant‑Major. The old warrior’s ideas of bravery are shaped by battlefield scars, while his daughter longs for a partner who isn’t necessarily a soldier. A clash of expectations erupts as the father scrambles to protect his daughter from what he sees as an unsuitable suitor.

The conversation quickly turns witty and tense, with Mr. Farrer trading barbs about size, fear, and even a local ghost rumored to haunt an apple tree. He daringly offers to confront the specter at midnight, hoping to prove his mettle and win the sergeant‑major’s reluctant respect. Listeners are treated to a lively mix of familial banter, old‑world honor codes, and a hint of supernatural mischief that sets the stage for further conflict.