With the Colours; or, the piping times of peace ... With illustrations by R. Simkin

Front matter

Without a moment's hesitation he brought it down on the top of Tubbs' head." Vr, WITH THE COLOURS OR Cbc ip'tpuig SJhms us flcaa BY R. MOUNTENEY JEPHSON AUTHOR OF '4 TOM El'LLKLEY OF LF.SSINGTON," 4' THE CIRL HE LEFT BEHIND HIM," ETC, ETC. WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY R. SIMKIX. LONDON GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND SONS THE BROADWAY, LUDGATE HILL NEW YORK : 416, BROOME STREET BY THE SAME AUTHOR. (Uniform with this Volume.) THE ROLL OF THE DRUM. With Illustrations by Major Seccomue, R.A. I Jlcbuatc tins Dool; TO MY OLD FRIEND CAPTAIN EDWARD PENNELL ELMHIRST, WHO WAS A FELLOW-ACTOR WITH ME IN MANY OF THE SCENES DESCRIBED IN IT. "NIL EGO COXTUI.ERIM JUCUXDO SAXL'S AMICO." R. MOUNTENEY JEPHSON.

Preface

. ~^e-*7 » I should like it to be understood that I am not the Robert Froyle of these pages. I never was such a fine fellow. He certainly follows exactly in my footsteps, but there the likeness is meant to end. I must admit that my original intention had been to give my experiences in my own proper person, as the best way of presenting a transcript of the average English subaltern's life for the amusement and benefit of my readers — more especially those v/ho are young in the service or are about to enter it. But I soon discovered what a very uninteresting young man I was ' except to myself and those immediately connected with me. So, while wishing not to depart altogether from my original plan, I com promised the matter by investing Ensign Robert Froyle with sundry good qualities of which I am deficient, and then putting him into my shoes.

R. M. J. London, 18S0. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE n ' GOOD-BYE, BOB. . . . GOD BLESS YOU.' " ... 21 HAD WE NOT HEARD FROM OUR INFANCY OF THE FAR-FAMED ROCK OF GIBRALTAR?" 27 ENSIGN FROYLE, SIR?' ASKED THE ORDERLY" . 31 I FOUND MYSELF SITTING BOLT UPRIGHT IN BED, WHILE A ROAR LIKE THE CRACK OF DOOM RANG IN MY EARS " . . 39 ' THEN A SHARP CRACK RANG IN THE AIR, AND THE WRETCHED GREEK FELL WITH A CRASH " 49 4 A NEW WAY OF SETTLING AN OLD QUARREL " . . . . 59 4 WITHOUT A MOMENT'S HESITATION HE BROUGHT IT DOWN ON THE TOP OF TUBBs' HEAD " 65 4 ALTOGETHER THE FIGURE WAS DECIDEDLY AN IMPOSING ONE " 7 I 4 ' ATTENTION ! ' SHOUTED THE COLONEL AS HIS HORSE BOUNDED WILDLY UP ........... 83 ' BY THE LIVING JINGO, DANCING PUMPS ! ' ROARED THE GENERAL " 09 ' I DREW THE SWORD FROM ITS SCABBARD AMIDST A WILD SHOUT OF LAUGHTER " 95 4 HE HARDLY EVER WENT BY WITHOUT CALLING ME UP TO ASK ME, WITH HIS HAND RESTING ON MY SHOULDER, HOW I WAS GETTING ON" Ill 44 ' NOW, SIR, DO YOU THINK YOU'RE STANDING IN A CORRECT TOSITION ? ' SAID THE GENERAL " 128 44 WHAT A SIGHT MET HIS GAZE !

WHERE WAS THE ONCE MAJESTIC REGIMENT?" 133 44 AFTER STRUGGLING ON MANFULLY FOR ABOUT FIFTY YARDS, HE HAD SAT DOWN ON THE GROUND TO AWAIT THE RESULT" I34 " WHY THIS TAIL IS SEWN ON ! " 139 "ANY COMPLAINTS?" 143 "HIS HOT BREATH FANS MY FACE; HIS EYES GLEAM LIKE PIECES OF LIVE COAL " 159 " THE ALBANIAN, WITH HIS LONG YATAGHAN NAKED AND UP- LIFTED IN HIS HAND, HIS FACE LIVID AND DISTORTED WITH FURY, IS WITHIN THREE TACES OF ME "... List of Illustrations. VIII TAGE 'i — i — i've killed an Albanian dog,' faltered tubbs" . 1 73 4 RULE BRITANNIA ! " l%5 " AND THIS, GENTLEMEN, WAS HOW rOMTOUS TOMMY LANDED IN INDIA " l°7 44 THERE WAS A FLASH AND A FIZZLE, FOLLOWED BY A FAINT ODOUR OF ROAST BEEF " '9' 44 ' PLEASE, SAIRGEANT,' SAID PRIVATE JAKERS, ' IT'S YOUR OWN- RAMROD YOU'VE BEEN AND FIRED OFF, YERSELF ' " . . 200 44 SLOWLY THE SAD TROCESSION MOVED DOWN THE ZIG-ZAG TATII " 203 "■'WHO C — C — C — COMES THE — THE — THERE?' SHOUTED THE MAN IN TREMULOUS NOTES. — ' ROUNDS,' I RESPONDED " . . 205 44 it if.ts A tug!" 225 '4 'WHO'S THE OFFICER ON GUARD HERE, CORrORAL ? ' ASKED O'FLAHERTY. — 'LIEUTENANT BENSON, SIR'" . . . ■ 229 44 ' GOING UP TO RONDA, EH, TO SEE A BULL-FIGHT?

WELL, I DON'T THINK YOU'LL CARE TO SEE ANOTHER ' " . . . 234 44 HE PLACES THE TWO -DARTS INTO THE ANIMAL, ONE ON- EACH SHOULDER " 247 " THE BULL COULD NOT FOLLOW BOTH, AND HIS CHOICE FELL ON THE WASP-WAISTED SOLDIER " 254 " ENSIGN TUBBS TREADING A MEASURE WITH A SLIM-WAISTED, RED-TROWSERED VOLTIGEUR." . 268 " BUT JUST AT THIS JUNCTURE, AS IF BY A MERCIFUL INTER- POSITION OF PROVIDENCE, THE MOON ROSE ABOVE VICTORIA TEAK, AND SHED ITS FRIENDLY RAYS ON THE SCENE " • . 280 44 INSTEAD OF HIS HOE-NAILED BOOTS WE GAVE HIM LIST SLITrFRS, INSTEAD OF HIS BAYONET A BLUDGEON, AND WE ALSO PROVIDED HIM WITH A DARK LANTERN " .... 287 10 HIS HORROR THE GROUND IN FRONT OF HIM UPHEAVED, AND THE HEAD OF A JAPANESE APPEARED" . . . 29 1 " IN ONE MOMENT THE PROUD YACONIN WAS ROLLING ON HIS BACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DUSTY ROAD " . . . . 312 10 HIM ROCHESTER ADDRESSED A FEW WORDS IN JAPANESE, As THE SAME TIME TOINTING HIS REVOLVER AT Ills HEAD" 314 44 AN EQUINE SHYLOCK " 321 44 I ALWAYS H.VTrENED TO TURN A CORNER JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME TO SEE JACK BOWLBY SHOOTING ROUND ANOTHER" 347 44 FOLLOWING THEM, ALSO SUGGESTIVE OF THE MIDDLE AGFS, WERE SEVERAL HUNDRED MEN IN ARMOUR" . . . . OR THE PIPING TIMES OP PEACE.

Chapter I

— ■ -^S*s On a certain bright morning in the leafy month of June, about fifteen years ago, the family circle of which I, Bob Froyle, was a hopeful member, was thrown into a high state of excitement by an announcement in the " London Gazette," proclaiming my appointment to an ensigncy in a regiment of infantry. We were just sitting down to breakfast when my father — who was taking a cursory glance at the " Times " — promulgated the thrilling piece of intelligence. I, of course, immediately became the object of general congratulation. My father shook me by the hand with a hearty, " God bless you, my dear boy," on his lips ■ my brothers Jack and Fred clapped me on the back • my sisters Amy and Katie kissed me ; while little Teddie the youngest born of the family, aged live, testified his admiration and delight by twining his small body round one of my legs — a very usual manifestation of joy on Teddie's part.

The least demonstrative was my mother, though I am certain the tidings had sunk deepest into her heart. I think she shed a tear, for in silence she went to the window, and I saw her raise her handkerchief to her face. Her emotions were quickly subdued, however, and when she turned her face towards me there was a sweet, .cheerful smile on it. "Bless me," suddenly exclaimed my father, "this is an extraordinary, I may say, indeed, a glorious coincidence." "What is?" we all exclaimed with one voice, for my father spoke in tones of elation, which excited our curiosity. " Why, this is the iSth of June, the glorious 18th of June, the anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo. Bob, my dear boy, you could not have commenced your career on a more auspicious day." This view was enthusiastically shared by the whole family.

The chronological coincidence was hailed as a happy omen of my future success as a soldier, and there was not one of us who did not recognise in it the finger of a glorious destiny which had marked me for a second Wellington. " Where is the regiment quartered?" asked my mother, with a slight tremor in her tones indicating an inward anxious hope that it was not far away. " Ah, yes, that is a very important point," said my father ; " Fred, run into the library like a good boy, and bring me the Army List you'll find on my writing-table. That will very soon tell us." The Army List was soon in my father's hands, and as he turned over the pages in search of the column devoted to my regiment, we all awaited his announcement with considerable anxiety. It was a trying moment, especially for my mother, who turned very pale, and, with her eyes intently fixed on my father, sat pressing her hands tightly together.

Which one of the numerous British Possessions was to be my destination ? Was I to be broiled in India, or frozen in Canada ? Or was I to commence my career in the West Indies, or China, or at the Cape ? My mother, I knew, took the gloomiest view of most of these places. With her India meant cholera and black holes of Calcutta ; the West Indies, yellow fever and rattlesnakes ; China, sunstroke and assassination ; while all involved exile ; and she sat like a prisoner in the dock, waiting to hear sentence pronounced. " Ah, here we are," said my father, as he laid his forefinger on the number of my regiment at the top of the column, and then most tantalisingly lost fully three seconds in settling his spectacles. "My dear Robert, how slow you are !" said my mother with an impatience that we rarely heard in her tones.

Poor thing ! There are no moments so long as those of suspense. " Bob," at length said my father, " I congratulate you, my boy, — you lucky young dog ! You've simply got the best quarter in the world." " Where ? where ? " was asked on all sides. " Why," said my father, enthusiastically waving the Army List, 44 ' The isles of Greece, the isles of Greece ! Where burning Sappho loved and sang, Where grew the arts of war and peace, — Where Delos rose and Phœbus sprang ; ' Bob, again I congratulate you on commencing your career on such classic ground." " Oh, do speak in plain English, Robert," said my mother, " where is it ? " " The Ionian Islands, my dear." " The Ionian Islands ! / know. That's where the best currants come from. Shouldn't I like to go there just ! " said Fred with a fond leer in his eye as he ogled an imaginary plum-pudding.

"The Ionian Islands!" said my mother, looking a little blank. " But isn't that very far ? Dear me, I was hoping that it might have been a home station, just for the first year or two." " Oh no, mother," I said gaily, " I'd much sooner go abroad and see the world. I'm rather sorry, in fact, that it isn't China or the Cape." " No, no ; let well alone," said my father ; " you couldn't do better than the Ionian Islands. The very name is inspiring — 4 Fill high the bowl of Samian wine ! On Suli's rock and Parga's shore, Exists ' " " Oh, Robert, don't be tiresome," said my mother, " this is too anxious a moment for spouting poetry. Are the Ionian Islands healthy ? " " Oh, yes, I should think so, my dear." "But isn't there a depot at home?" asked my mother, brightening up. " I thought they always sent young officers to the depot at first."

" Yes, and a very bad course I consider it," replied my father. " I shall use my utmost interest to get Bob sent straight out to head-quarters. Nothing like sticking to the colours. Always be with the colours if you can. That's my advice to you, Bob." " Talking of colours, has the — ahem — my regiment got many battles inscribed on them ? " I asked. "Yes," said my father, as he again consulted the Army List, '■ that it has — a very distinguished regiment indeed ! It has snatched a considerable amount of the bubble reputation from the cannon's mouth. Listen." And here my father, with a considerable amount of national pride mantling his cheek and inflating his tones, read out the following list of victories : — Roleia, Vimiera, Corunna, Busaco, Salamanca, Vittoria, Saint Sebastian, Nive, Peninsula, Cabool, Moodkee, Ferozeshah, Sobraon, Sevastopol.

As the famous names, pronounced in sonorous and grandi loquent tones, fell on my ears I felt that as a member of the regiment some of the reflected glory fell upon me. " What a lot of them ! " I said proudly. " Yes, quite enough ; it ought to rest contentedly on its laurels, and I sincerely hope that it won't have any more oppor tunities of adding fresh names to the list," said my mother, who hardly possessed the spirit of a Spartan matron. " Come, come, my dear, you must not express those un patriotic sentiments," said my father ; " you surely would not have our boy join the army with the notions of that foppish lord who so enraged Harry Hotspur by saying that he himself would have been a soldier but for ' villanous saltpetre,' and those ' vile guns.' " " No, I certainly should not like Bob to have those senti ments, but I think it's only natural / should," said my poor dear mother very gently.

" And what coloured cuffs and collars does your regiment wear? " asked Amy, who took the young-lady-like and uniform view of the army. " Cuffs and collars, Amy ! " I said indignantly. " What a way of putting it ! Facings, you mean." "Well, what coloured facings then?" said Amy laughing merrily. " Yellow," said my father, "Yellow! oh how ugly ! It won't become your complexion at all, Bob." " Nonsense, Amy. Bother the complexion ! It's only girls who think about complexions." " It's quite evident /<?« don't, Bob," retorted Amy, " for what with boating and cricket you've turned or rather tanned your self into a sort of Red Indian." '-' Just come here, Amy, and if you'll put your ear close to my mouth I'll complete the likeness with a war-whoop." " No, I thank you, I beg to decline." '■ Oh, by the way, what's the badge of the regiment, if it has one ?

" I asked my father, who was running his eyes down the list of officers' names to see if any of them were familiar to him. "Yes, it has a badge, and a very proud one too — the figure of Britannia." " Oh how handsome that will be," said Katie, my second sister. "Yes, so like one of those tin things some of the insurance offices stick on the houses," said Jack. " Or the tail of a penny," added Fred. " Ha, ha, ha," roared my father, " where's your esprit de cotps, Bob, my boy? I wouldn't stand that, if I were you." Thus instigated, I was just on the point of going at Jack and Fred, when my mother interposed with, " Oh, please don't Bob ; when you boys begin your romps there's no knowing where it ends, or rather I should say, I do know, for experience has taught me that it always ends in broken furniture and smashed, crockery, and how it is I have not to add 'broken bones ' is a mystery to me.

I'm astonished at you, Robert, actually setting the boys on to make a noise and disturbance. As if they were not always quite ripe enough for it without any instigation ! " " Very well, mother, we won't kick up a row now. But Jack and Fred, I challenge you both to mortal combat : place, the passage between our rooms ; period, bedtime, to-night ; weapons, bolsters." "But, my dear Bob," said my father, laughing, "won't a bolstering match come under the definition "of 'conduct un becoming the character of an officer and a gentleman ? ' " " Yes," added Amy, " I'm sure you ought to be above such things now. You've no idea how much more like a man you have looked ever since papa read your name out in the ' Gazette.' And as for your moustache, I've noticed it for the last ten minutes visibly sprouting before my very eyes • and I've no doubt if we had a powerful magnifying-glass we should find that the whiskers were making frantic efforts to come on too."

" Amy," said I in severe tones, " I consider those remarks call for the infliction, at my hands, of the extreme punishment it is in my power to award you." "Oh, don't, please don't, Bob!" said Amy, with a perfect knowledge of the approaching torture, and clasping her head between her hands. " I am very sorry — I didn't mean any thing — I apologise — I retract." " Too late. The sentence I now pass upon you is, that your comb be drawn out of your head, and your back-hair be let down." " Oh, don't, dear Bob, there's a good boy. I beg your pardon — I mean Ensign, Captain, Major-General, Field- Marshal Froyle. I won't say anything disrespectful again," said Amy, still holding on to her head and sliding off her chair to a seat on the carpet exactly under the centre of the table, a very frequent sanctuary with poor Amy when in peril from me.

" Let her alone, Bob, you shocking tease," said my mother, with a good-natured smile, which, however, vanished, to be re placed by a look of resigned martyrdom, accompanied by the exclamation, " there, I knew how it would be ! " " Robert," said my father, who up to this moment had been laughing heartily, but who now spoke with considerable asperity, " you are really too old for these boyish tricks. One would have thought the event of the morning would have impressed upon you the fact that it was high time for you to adopt a more staid demeanour. But not a bit of it. It seems to have had no such effect upon you whatever." Now what was it that had brought this parental rebuke upon my head ? Why simply a cup of coffee, one half of which, in the scuffle, had gone over the tablecloth and the other half over the neat little print summer morning dress, in which, the moment before, Amy had looked so fresh and sweet.

" Really, Robert," continued my father as Amy retired to change her garment, " you should make serious efforts to check this boisterous exuberance of spirits which subordinates itself to neither time nor place. You must recollect — well, well " said my father, suddenly breaking down in his lecture, " on so eventful a morning in your career I shan't treat you to a wigging." Here a cheery smile drove away the frown which for some moments had settled on his brow, upon which Jack and Fred and Katie, who had been giggling behind their hands, now burst forth into open merriment, an example I promptly followed. 1 ' Ah, Bobby, Bobby," said my mother shaking her head and her finger at me, half playfully, half sadly, " I'm afraid you're not fit to go out into the world yet." " Not-fit to go out into the world, mother !

" I exclaimed ; " why I was in the first eleven at school ; I'm not a bad oar ; I can hold a gun pretty straight ; I can also ride pretty straight ; and I can run a hundred yards in ten seconds. I don't say all this to brag, mother, but just to remove from your mind those doubts concerning my fitness to hold my own in the world." " Ah, Bobby, all is not sport and pastime in this world." " Or," remarked my father, ' all cakes and ale.' " " Or beer and skittles," said Jack. " No," moralised my father, " the beer sometimes becomes gall and wormwood, and it is we who often get bowled over instead of the skittles." Here Amy, who was the best tempered little creature that ever had her life plagued out of her by a brother, re-entered the room in another dress, and after shaking her fist at me resumed her seat at the breakfast-table.

" You nasty, tiresome Bob ! " said Amy, half laughing, half pouting. " Never mind, Amy, I'll send you a beautiful Albanian costume, all covered with gold." The conversation for the remainder of the meal was entirely devoted to a discussion of my military prospects. Indeed, for the whole of the day there was little else talked of. Towards the evening I suddenly became two inches taller — or felt as if I did — on the receipt of a letter addressed, "On Her Majesty's Service" to " Ensign Robert Froyle," &c. This official and imposing communication was from the Horse Guards, informing me that I was to proceed at the expiration of two months to Cephalonia to join the headquarters of my regiment there stationed, and that a passage to Malta per P. and O. steamer leaving South ampton on 20th August following would be provided for me.

I was further ordered to report myself immediately on arrival at Malta to the Assistant Adjutant-General at that station, by whom I would be sent on to my destination by first opportunity. This letter was, the next morning and during the next two days, followed by a countless host of others from rival out fitters, each of whom proved beyond the possibility of a doubt that he was the one to go. to. Now a good outfit at the start saves a great deal of after expense and annoyance ; and my father, fully alive to the importance of the matter, devoted an entire week to sifting the rival claims. Finally our selec tion of "an army tailor, That great enchanter at whose rod's command Beauty springs forth and Nature's self turns paler," lay with a well-known member of the fraternity, and it was a proud morning when I turned off Piccadilly into his establishment in Sackville Street for the purpose of ordering my uniform and being measured for it.

C All arrangements concerning uniform and barrack furniture having been satisfactorily concluded, there was nothing to be done but to make the most of the few precious weeks which yet remained to me of " home, sweet home." Quickly the time slipped away ■ and, as the day of departure drew near, I could not help thinking at times that, notwithstanding my eagerness to begin the military career, I should not in the least have ob jected to a month's extension of leave. The day before I was to sail, I started, bag and baggage, for Southampton, accompanied by the whole family, who were, one and all, determined to see the last of me. Our dinner at the hotel that night was rather a hollow mockery. Notwithstanding the semblance of gaiety, the sepa ration which the morrow would bring was perpetually rising before us like the ghost of Banquo at Macbeth's feast.

The next morning at twelve o'clock was the time appointed for sailing ; and, at half-past ten, so as to give my family plenty of time to inspect my temporary home on the rolling deep, we all sallied forth from the hotel for the docks. We soon reached the wharf, alongside of which lay the P. and O. ship Pera, in which my passage had been taken, and as my luggage was being shipped by an agent, there was nothing to do but to walk on board without any bother. Poor little Teddie, who had never even seen a ship, and who was all eyes and mouth, nearly shed an additional gloom over my departure by taking the very first opportunity of tumbling down a hatchway, and all but breaking his small neck. After pacifying Ted, the first thing to be done was to inspect my cabin, or rather the cabin of which I was part owner, for a card on the door informed us that there was a fellow occupant.

Everything was beautifully clean, and as there were three berths, of which only two were taken, it seemed that I should be as comfortable as a person can be when " cabined, cribbed, confined." As we re-entered the saloon, there were numerous groups composed of voyagers and their valedictory friends, who, not withstanding the somewhat early hour of the day, were drinking champagne and nibbling ship's biscuit. I at once determined in the fulness of my heart to conform to the custom ; and, in spite of a mild protest from my father of " My dear boy, this is dreadful dissipation," I ordered one of the stewards to bring champagne and glasses. "We must keep our peckers up, my dear father," I remarked faintly, for not only was it apparent that my own pecker, but also the peckers generally of the entire family were rapidly sinking to a very low level.

With outward cheerfulness we hobnobbed over our bumpers, and with apparent relish we drank the champagne. The wretched Teddie here again seized the opportunity for distinguishing himself. Detecting in his parents a disposition to deprive him of his liquor on the ground of his extreme youth, that sagacious child attempted to put it out of sight as quickly as possible, and in so doing swallowed the wrong way and choked. We had just saved him from suffocation by vigorous thumping on the back, when the hoarse-toned words, " Any one for shore ? " fell like a knell upon our ears. It was the horrible signal telling us to nerve ourselves for the last parting wrench. We were speedily on deck, and already the visitors were leaving the ship. " Good-bye, Bob," said my father in a low trembling voice as he grasped my hand.

" Be a gentleman and a christian and a soldier, and do your duty in all three capacities. God bless you." I could only reply with a look and a pressure of the hand. » In speechless grief, my mother then threw her arms round my neck and pressed her pale, cold lips to my cheek. A thousand little reproaches for many a wild and thoughtless act which had pained that loving heart stung me to the quick. c " Forgive me, mother," I whispered, "for all the trouble and anxiety I have cost you." She merely looked up into my face with her streaming eyes, and said nothing. But what unspoken words of sweet forgive ness were in that look ! One more kiss from her, and she was led away by my father. Amy's arms were now round my neck, and her tear-bedewed cheek pressed against mine. " Good-bye, Amy, I'm afraid I was a dreadful tease."

" Oh, no, no, Bob, you weren't. I'm sure I'd give anything now if you were coming back with us, and you might pull down my back hair every minute in the day, and I shouldn't say any thing. I should like it," sobbed poor Amy. . "Good-bye, Katie; you won't have me now to turn your work-box inside out, and I'm sure you'll all find me a good riddance." Poor little Katie tried hard to make a speech, but there was such a predominance of " boo-hoo-hoo " in her remarks that I failed to catch their drift. My brothers Jack and Fred were more easily disposed of. But not so little Teddie who came last. " Good-bye, Teddie." It was all very fine to say "good-bye, Teddie," Teddie wouldn't have anything of the sort. He had a peculiar way of testifying his emotion, whether of joy or sorrow, by twining himself round your leg, and clinging on tight to it.

He now vented his feelings in this manner, and with even more than his usual tenacity. "There, Teddie, don't cry, there's a good boy; say good-bye and go with Katie." Not a bit of it ; Teddie's small legs were lightly locked round my ankle, his arms were clasped round my leg, and there he clung on like a lobster, looking up into my face and howling dismally. "'Good-bye, Bob. . . . God bless you.' " "Take me too, take me too," roared Teddie; and it was only when it was explained to him that if he went with me he would have to leave his mother that he consented to allow himself to be unwound and led away. In a few moments they had left the ship, and were drawn up in a line at the edge of the wharf watching the ship slowly drifting away from the stage. With the exception of Teddie, they were all striving to smile cheerfully through their tears ; but he, with infantile candour, disdained such palpable hypo crisy.

There he stood on the flank of the family line, giving vent to his feelings in another way peculiar to him — small legs somewhat apart, toes of the buckle-shoes turned inward, body from the waist upwards inclined forward, arms hanging per pendicularly down with the backs of the hands to the front, head elevated, eyes streaming, and mouth open to its full extent. Not a sound, however, proceeded for seme time from that feature, but there he stood as if silently, slowly, and laboriously pumping up his deep-seated grief from the very soles of his feet. " Cheer up, Teddie, my little man," I sung out. Teddie responded with a roar that elicited the remark, " I wish my liver was as sound as that little fellow's lungs," from a yellow-faced old Anglo-Indian standing near me, who was going back to lay up more rupees and liver complaint.