close to the hedge, to avoid his charge.

"You seem to be in a hurry, L'Isle. Hallo! here is another!" said the
colonel, giving his horse another dexterous turn, to shun the onset of
the groom. "What news has come? Or have you joined the dragoons? Or
are you merely running a race with your man here?"

"Neither, sir," said L'Isle, who had pulled up and turned to speak to
his comrade. His flashing eye and excited manner, his thoroughbred
steed, chafing on the bit and pawing the ground, were in striking
contrast with the unruffled Bradshawe on his sleek cob, whose temper
was as smooth as his coat.

"The fact is," said L'Isle, in what was meant for an explanatory tone,
"I have just had a serious conversation with Lord Strathern--"

"Which grew quite animated before it came to an end," interjected
Bradshawe, coolly.

"In which I took the liberty of expressing my opinion," continued
L'Isle--

"Rather strongly on the subject of discipline, military license, and
the articles of war," interjected Bradshawe again.

"You are happy in your surmises, sir," said L'Isle, stiffly; for
Bradshawe's imperturbable manner chafed him much in his present mood.

"Surmises! my dear fellow. Do I not know your opinions and my lord's?
You believe the rules and regulations were made to be enforced _ad
literam_, and he thinks they are to be hung up _in terrorem_. My
lord," added Bradshawe, in a calm, judicial tone, "is the more
mistaken of the two."

"Since you so far agree with me," said L'Isle, "would it not be well
for you to remind his lordship that it is time to enforce some of the
rules and regulations for the government of his Majesty's troops, if
he would have his brigade consist of soldiers, and not of robbers."

"It is very desirable to keep up the distinction between the two
professions," said Bradshawe. "One has a strong tendency to slide into
the other. Pray, tell me what arguments you have been using with my
lord."

L'Isle, with an effort at calmness, repeated the substance of the late
conversation, much to Bradshawe's amusement; for in him a genuine love
of mischief rivaled his epicurean tastes.

"On one point, my lord had the advantage of you," said Bradshawe. "It
is his privilege to bid you look after your regiment; not yours to bid
him look after his brigade."

"True," said L'Isle, bitterly. "But as you, though my senior, are not
my commander, I trust there is no insubordination in my telling you
that the brigade