a great convenience in a small room, after
all. By the good day, here 's Beecher!" exclaimed he, as that worthy
individual approached the door.

"What's all this for, Kellett, old boy? Are you expecting the Viceroy,
or celebrating a family festival, eh? What does it mean?"

"'T is a mutton chop I was going to give a friend of Jack's,--a young
fellow that brought me a letter from him yesterday."

"Oh! your son Jack. By the way, what's his regiment,--Light Dragoons, is
n't it?"

"No; the Rifles," said Kellett, with a short cough.

"He's pretty high up for his lieutenancy by this, ain't he?" said
Beecher, rattling on. "He Joined before Alma, didn't he?"

"Yes; he was at the battle," said Kellett, dryly; for though he had once
or twice told his honorable friend that Jack was in the service, he had
not mentioned that he was in the ranks. Not that Annesley Beecher
would have, in the least, minded the information. The fact could not by
possibility have touched himself; it never could have compelled _him_
to mount guard, do duty in the trenches, eat Commissariat biscuit, or
submit to any of the hardships soldiery inflicts; and he 'd have heard
of Jack's fate with all that sublime philosophy which teaches us to bear
tranquilly the calamities of others.

"Why don't you stir yourself to get him a step? There's nothing to
be had without asking! ay, worse than asking,--begging, worrying,
importuning. Get some fellow in one of the offices to tell you when
there's a vacancy, and then up and at them. If they say, 'We are only
waiting for an opportunity, Captain Kellett,' you reply, 'Now's your
time then, Groves of the Forty-sixth is gone "toes up;" Simpson,
of the Bays, has cut his lucky this morning.' That's the way to go to
work."

"You are wonderful!" exclaimed Kellett, who really did all but worship
the worldly wisdom of his friend.

"I 'd ask Lackington, but he 's no use to any one. Just look at my own
case." And now he launched forth into the theme he really loved and
never found wearisome. His capacity for anything--everything, his exact
fitness for fifty opposite duties, his readiness to be a sinecurist, and
his actual necessity for a salary, were subjects he could be eloquent
on; devoting occasional passing remarks to Lackington's intense
stupidity, who never exerted himself for him, and actually "thought him
a flat." "I know you won't believe--but he does, I assure you--he thinks
me a flat!"

Before Kellett could