comic remark, now with a compliment,
never flagging a moment, while the colonel
lay back in his chair pleased, and giving
short, sharp, signs of approval in his curious
metallic voice. Soon the Doctor got a cue
for a story, and then had the whole table
listening and laughing. At its conclusion
his wary eye fell on the face of an officer
near him, a little dark man, which was
grave and disgusted.

"I've the best intentions," said the Doctor,
with a twinkle of mischief. "I know what
I mean, but break down in the expression.
Now this gentleman is execrating my
want of perspicuity, and wants me to begin
all over again."

"Oh," said several voices, "it's only
Colquohun. You've shocked him."

Mr. Colquohun said, gravely: "As you
ask me, I thought what was said was a
little profane."

"Ha, ha, very good!" said the colonel.

Mr. Colquohun was the "religious" officer
of the corps, and, as the colonel said,
"Bibled" the men handsomely.

"Oh, I see," said the Doctor, good
humouredly, "the volunteer movement!
I'm used to all that sort of thing, and never
was or will be regenerated by an amature
in my life. Gentlemen, I'm for the regular
army; the line, colonel, before the militia,
secular or religious!"

This produced a laugh. "Ah," went on
the Doctor, "you never met Billy Webber,
colonel? You're in his parish now. He'll
be looking after you next Sunday. He'd
preach every man here out of the saddle."

There was some curiosity about Billy
Webber. "Never heard of Billy! Why
he's known over the three kingdoms. The
bishop would poison him though. Such a
voice! Talk of Mareyo, and that lot.
Why he'd give him fifty bars and beat
him easy.  Why Costa would just lie down
and burst for joy, if he could get him to
sing My Own, My Sweet, Farewell, at the
opera.  Now, to hear that song, Colonel
Bouchier, and sung by Billy Webber, you
couldn't sit quiet in your chair."

This description stimulated curiosity.
The Doctor waxed enthusiastic about his
friend. "But, my dears, you should hear
him in Wagtail's Wife! Why if a music-
hall manager had that man, he'd have to
have iron safes built to hold all the money
he'd take!  A cruel pity it is that he's
chained by the leg."

"A nice clergyman, indeed," said the
religious officer, scornfully.

"I shall let him know of your kind
approbation," said the Doctor, gravely. "In
fact, I'm sure he wouldn't be offended if
I stepped round with Colonel Bouchier's
compliments. He's not gone to bed. I know
he's not touchy, or ceremonious, and
perhaps, under the circumstances——"

"Oh fetch him by all means," said the
colonel, and a loud chorus of approbation
supported the proposal.

The Doctor got up and went out on tiptoe,
as if on some secret errand. "I leave
my character among ye," he said. "Be
tender of it: you can tear it like a bit of
sergeant's cloth!"

In a few minutes he reappeared with
his friend, whose appearance and manner
caused universal disappointment. For
among strangers the Reverend Mr. Webber
was quite shy and retiring, and had a
somewhat starched air. Colonel
Bouchier was rather taken back by the
ceremonious character of the introduction, and
the Doctor said behind his hand to a neighbour,
"Let him alone a bit; when he feels
the saddle well under him, then he'll make
the mare go. We must let him get water
into the boiler, too."

Some such operation Mr. Webber was
engaged in, modestly talking to the colonel
about the weather, and on other conversational
and harmless topics, until the Doctor
at last grew impatient.

"Come, Billy, this isn't Sunday morning,
and that bit of table before you isn't
a pulpit-cushion, and none of us here want
a good sleep."

"Talk of what you understand, Fin.
Much he knows of churches and pulpit-
cushions, colonel! Not that they'd do him
any good. The man's hardened; years of
crime have done their work."

The Doctor was delighted at these
compliments. He nudged his neighbour.

"He's getting into feather. Come, Billy,
you're paid for that, and keep it for those
that pay you."

"You sing, Mr. Webber?" said the
colonel."

"Oh, yes, sir, a little. I'm learning, and
the music-master says I may do very
well when I grow up, and my voice gets
strong."

"I believe you lost it, Billy, the time you
were singing boy at Windsor, when you
tried your high B the day the queen came."

These two were thus civilly beginning
their favourite amusement of "chaffing"
each other, which, however, the officers did
not quite understand. The pair were
inclined to go on with this pastime, quite