r be an entirely satisfactory substitute.

"On the 2nd of next month the company (No. 17) of the R.A. at present
stationed at Pendennis Castle, Falmouth, will be sailing for
Gibraltar on active service. Their successors, the 22nd Company, now
at Chatham, will not be due to replace them until the New Year.
And I have advised that your company be ordered down to the Castle to
fill up the interval with a few weeks of active training.

"May I say that I was deeply impressed by the concern you show in the
health of your men? I agreed with well-nigh everything you said to
me on this subject, and am confident you will in turn agree with me
that nothing conduces more to the physical well-being of a body of
troops, large or small, than an occasional change of air.

"With kind regards and a request that you will remember me to the
ladies who contributed so much to the amenities of my visit.--
Believe me, dear sir, your obedient servant,

"H. R. Taubmann (Lieut.-Colonel R.A.)."

I will dare to say that Colonel Taubmann never fired a shot in his life--
round-shot, bomb or grenade, grape or canister--with a tithe of the effect
wrought by this letter. For a whole day Looe was stunned, dismayed,
desolated.

"And in Christmas week, of all holy seasons!" commented Gunner Spettigew.
"And the very first Christmas the Die-hards have started a goose club!"

"And this," said Sergeant Pengelly, with bitter intonation, "is Peace on
Earth and Good-will toward men, or what passes for such in the regulars.
Wi' the carol-practisin' begun too, an' nobody left behind to take the
bass!"

"Tis the Army all over!" announced William Henry Phippin, who had served
as bo'sun's mate under Lord Howe. "I always was in two minds about
belongin' to that branch o' the Service: for, put it how you will, 'tis a
come-down for a fellow that has once known the satisfaction to march ahead
of 'em. There was a sayin' we had aboard the old _Queen Charlotte_--
'A messmate afore a shipmate,' we said, 'an' a shipmate afore a dog, an' a
dog, though he be a yellow dog, afore a sojer.' But what vexes me is the
triumphant arches we wasted on such a chap."

"My love," said the Doctor to his spouse, "I congratulate you on your
fancy for _professional_ soldiers. You are married to one, anyway."

"Dearest!"

"It comes to that, or very nearly." He groaned. "To be separated f