ist in the ranks Edgar might have tried to go in as a
trumpeter, and inquiries had been made at all the recruiting depots
whether a lad answering to his description had so enlisted. The sergeant
had given him a note to a sergeant of his acquaintance in the Hussars.

"I put it pretty strong, young un," his friend had said when he gave him
the note; "mind you stick to what I say."

The sergeant had indeed--incited partly perhaps by a liking for the lad,
partly by a desire to return an equivalent for the sovereign with which
Edgar had presented him--drawn somewhat upon his imagination. "I have
known the young chap for a very long time," he said; "his father and
mother died years ago, and though I am no relation to him he looks upon
me as his guardian as it were. He has learned the trumpet a bit, and
will soon be able to sound all the calls. He will make a smart young
soldier, and will, I expect, take his place in the ranks as soon as he
is old enough. Do the best you can for him, and keep an eye on him."

"I will take you round to the trumpet-major," the sergeant said; "he had
better go with you to the adjutant. You know what Sergeant M'Bride says
in this letter?"

"No, I don't know exactly what he says. He told me he would introduce me
to you, and that you would, he was sure, do your best to put me
through."

"Well, you had better hear what he does say. It is always awkward to
have misunderstandings. He says you have lost your father and mother;
you understand that?"

"That's right," Edgar said quietly.

"And that he has known you for a very long time?"

Edgar nodded.

"It seems to me a very long time," he added.

"And that though he is no actual relation of yours he considers he
stands in the light of your guardian. That is important, you know."

"I will remember that," Edgar said. "There is certainly no one as far as
I know who has a better right than Sergeant M'Bride to advise me, or
give me permission to enlist."

"Well, you stick to that and you are all right. Now, come along."

"I wonder who the young chap is," the sergeant said to himself as they
crossed the barrack yard. "As to what M'Bride said, we know all about
that; I have been on the recruiting staff myself. But I think the young
un was speaking the truth. He has lost his father and mother, he has
known M'Bride for some time, and he has got no one who has any right to
interfere with him. Rum, too. The boy is a gentleman all over, though he
has