doing. Towards the hour of twelve,
however, we had to stand back ; for Mrs.
Lieutenant-Colonel Damzè came and sat upon
the sofa on the left side of the General,
and talked to him in an animated but
somewhat anxious manner, which became even
more anxious when Mrs. Revenue Board
approached, and taking a seat on the General's
right (eyeing Mrs. Lieutenant-Colonel Damzè
with a somewhat haughty expression),
congratulated the General on his recent good
fortune. At this advanced stage of the evening
also, Lady Gallopaway was flanked, right
and left, by old Mr. Revenue Board and
Lieutenant-Colonel Damzè, C.B. The reader
is requested to note that these two letters—
C.B. — were Damzè's by right ; or, at all
events, that he had been recommended for
the order, and that the recommendation had
been instantly attended to : albeit Damzè
had never been within range of an enemy's
cannon in the whole course of his life. Lady
Gallopaway yawned.

At length a gong sounded, and the band
struck up that usual signal that supper is
ready, "O, the Roast Beef of Old England,
O, the Old English Roast Beef."

The anxiety of the ladies who sat on either
side of the General was now at its height.
They fanned themselves with fearful vigour;
and we, the three interlopers, fancied that
we could hear the palpitation of their hearts.
Meanwhile their husbands, respectively, by
their looks, evinced a corresponding anxiety.
Each stood ready to offer his arm to Lady
Gallopaway as soon as the General had made
his election — of the lady he would lead to
the supper-table. Each party was equally
confident but equally nervous; like the
parties to a law-suit. For weeks past this
question of precedence had been debated in
Agra, and very warmly debated — namely,
whether Mrs. Revenue Board, of the Civil
Service, or Mrs. Lieutenant-Colonel Damzè,
C.B. — was entitled to the pas. Now was
the moment for a decision, or, at all events,
an authority in support of either position or
argument. The old General (upon whom
both Mr. Revenue Board and Lieutenant-
Colonel Damzè, C.B., had their anxious eyes)
rose, smiled, bowed to the ladies who
had flanked him, left them, and wandered
about the ball-room, looking to the right
and left, as if searching for some one.
Presently he stopped short, before little Mrs.
Infantry, who was talking to a cornet of the
Seventeenth Light Cavalry. The General
offered her his arm. She took it very
graciously, and was led away. But before
leaving the room, she halted, turned round, and
stared very significantly at the two elderly
ladies who were still seated on the sofa,
overwhelmed in surprise, horror, and indignation.
Infantry, who was only a lieutenant in his
regiment, observing that the General had
recognised the social right of his wife, which
she had derived solely from him, instantly
rushed up to Lady Gallopaway, and offered
her an arm (which she took) lead her away
in triumph, leaving his own Colonel (Damzè)
and old Mr. Revenue Board gasping, and
gazing at each other in mutual disgust and
consternation. Had a shell burst in the
building ; had the powder-magazine exploded
and shattered all the windows, the commotion
could scarcely have been greater than it was
at that moment. No one could account for
this extraordinary conduct, or caprice, as it
was termed, on the part of the old General.
Damzè, who had just been flattering him
concerning his wonderful achievements, now
declared that "the old fool had become half-
witted since eighteen hundred and forty-
seven," while Revenue Board, who, a quarter
of an hour previously had, to the General's
face, held forth on the unflinching independence
which has marked his character through
life, now protested openly protested that
he had been a time-server throughout his
entire career, and had some object in thus
truckling before the son of an influential
peer. The ladies, on the sofa, stared at each
other ; now commiserately and in silence for
at least two minutes, then simultaneously
ejaculated : "What can it mean ?"

"I thought it would have been me," said
Mrs. Revenue Board.

"You?" said Mrs. Damzè.

"Yes; why not? My husband is a civilian
of twenty years standing?

"Is not my husband a Lieutenant-Colonel
and a C.B.? If he were only a Major and
a C.B. he would take precedence of Mr.
Revenue Board."

"You are quite mistaken!"

"Indeed not! Do you suppose a C.B. goes
for nothing?"

"No, — but—"

Here Lieutenant-Colonel Damzè and Mr.
Revenue Board—who had been discussing the
same question; but in a calmer spirit than
their wives—approached, and, making
common cause against the upstart enemy
(Infantry and his wife), formed a quartette and
went into the supper-rooms; where, to their
intense mortification, they heard little Mrs.
Infantry talking loudly, on purpose to
attract the notice of all present. What was
even more mortifying still, the old General
was paying her marked attention.

The red party, that is to say, the military,
were in very high spirits; the black, the
civilians, correspondingly depressed. The
quartette, consisting of Damzè and Revenue
Board, and their wives, ate voraciously; but
evidently without appetite. They sipped their
wine with an absent formality, which was
very entertaining to lookers-on, who were in
no way interested in the momentous question
which was preying on their very souls.

"It shall not end here," said Damzè,
moodily fixing his eyes on the chandelier.

"Not, indeed!" said Mr. Revenue Board.

"I shall put my case to the Governor-