Page:Wren--The young stagers.djvu/146

128 "—and led the way to where the officers sat at their wine"

"Wot! Wasn't they total abstainers too?" inquired Bobball, in pained surprise.

"They were gentlemen," was the cold and crushing answer.

"‘And what will you take, Horace?' asked the Colonel.

"‘Lemonade, Sir, if you please, and thank you kindly,' replied Horace, who had very nice manners, as all teetotally-abstaining children have. But the Colonel was a gentleman who liked his little joke as the gentry often do.

"‘No, Horace,' said he. 'You shall join me in a glass of rum.'

"‘Oh, Sir, pray excuse me,' said poor Horace in dismay. 'I have been a total abstainer from birth, belonging to two Band-of-Hopes and a Mutual Improvement Society. My father was a Good Templar, Forester, Ancient Order of Buffaloes, and was buried with banners and a band.'

"‘Drink!' said the Colonel, pouring out a tumbler of rum.