Page:Littell's Living Age - Volume 126.djvu/163

Rh conceal a certain sense of uneasiness. "Yes, your Excellency," she observed between the mouthfuls, "a very sweet girl indeed; but I never saw such a thing done before. The brigadier always gives the pas to the commissioner, of course, for he is a civilian of twenty-eight years' standing, and so takes rank over a colonel of '51; although I really think that by rights a brigadier commanding a first-class district, and reporting direct to headquarters, ought to be considered as good as a major-general. I hope your Excellency will forgive my boldness in saying so; but if the commissioner were as old as Methuselah it would not make his daughter take rank before any married lady whatever, let alone a brigadier's lady. And your Excellency knows, — who better indeed? — that it is a rule for parties not to break up till the senior lady present takes her departure. It is really taking a great deal upon herself for a young girl like that to go off in that way from the very tent-door, in front of everybody, almost, as you may say, before supper is half over."

His Excellency observed gravely that it certainly was a sad breach of decorum, but that the young lady was probably ignorant of the rules in such cases, and that her father was understood to be unwell, and indeed looked hardly fit for late hours.

"Oh, of course, your Excellency," replied the lady, "it was not done on purpose; she has not been much in society, I daresay, poor dear girl — has lived chiefly abroad, where you meet very queer people, I believe; still the commissioner might have told her to say a word before going, just to explain matters, you know. And as for being too ill to stay, I am sure when we were stationed at Dinapore, and the brigadier was only commanding his regiment, the civilians at Patna used to give most elegant entertainments, and many's the time I have stayed till I was ready to drop, waiting till the general's lady should go first, for I always respected other people's position; and although people say I look so strong, I can assure your Excellency I am often exceedingly delicate, especially being so subject to a rush of blood to the head. If others can put up with illness, so might some people, I think. I have never seen such a thing before since the brigadier has commanded the station, never."

"But it was papa who was unwell, not the young lady," observed her partner, with a solemn countenance; "however, no doubt, as you rightly observe, it was a shocking solecism; but perhaps a hint from you on the subject would prevent its happening again. Your advice in matters of etiquette and good taste would be quite invaluable to young persons entering on life here. I suppose it would be no good asking you to take anything more? Shall we make way for the hungry folks behind us?" and so saying, his Excellency, offering his arm, escorted the lady now radiant with smiles back to the dancing-room.

"Seen his Excellency doing the polite to Mrs. Polwheedle?" said Jerry Spragge to a brother sub, as he helped himself to a glass of champagne.

"I should rather think so," replied the other, following the example; "best thing out by a long way."

"Did you see Kirke here just now?" said one officer of a native infantry regiment to another, later in the evening, as they stood together in the doorway, watching the dancers.

"Yes," said the other. " I thought it had been settled he was to go back to his regiment; but I suppose that must have been a mistake, or he would not have been here in the uniform of his irregulars."

"Oh no; he has been sent back to regimental duty beyond a doubt, and has had a close shave of a court-martial — the order will be in the next Gazette. I had it from one of the headquarter people."

"Well, it was a cool thing to come here at all under the circumstances, still more to come in the uniform of a corps he has been dismissed from, and with his Excellency in the room, too. I shouldn't be surprised if Tartar and the hussars were to take the thing up."

"He was only here for a minute or two. I saw the commissioner talking to him, apparently in remonstrance, and he went away immediately afterwards. He is a cousin of the commissioner, you know."

"Well, I am sorry for him," said the last speaker; "although I believe there is little doubt any other man might have been turned out of the service for what he did. It is a pity so fine a soldier can't keep his hands clean."

"A pity indeed. Do you remember the day he pulled our regiment out of that mess?"

"Do I not? By Jove! if he hadn't charged into that mass of Sikhs at the