hat at these hotels in Egypt, a man cannot
order his dinner when he pleases. He must breakfast at nine, and dine
at six, as others do--or go without. And whether he dine, or whether
he do not, he must pay. The Medes and Persians were lax and pliable
in their laws in comparison with these publicans.

Both George and Arthur would have frowned if they could have done
so; but on these two ladies it was impossible to frown. They were
both young, and both pretty. George's neighbour was uncommonly
pretty--was, indeed, one of the prettiest women that he had ever
seen;--that any man could see anywhere. She was full of smiles too,
and her smile was heavenly;--was full of words, and her words were
witty. She who sat next Arthur was perhaps less attractive; but she
had large soft eyes, which ever and anon she would raise to his face,
and then let fall again to her plate in a manner which made sparks
fly round the heart even of our somewhat sombre young Hampshire
vicar.

The four were soon in full conversation, apparently much to the
disgust of two military-looking gentlemen who sat on the other side
of the ladies. And it was evident that the military gentlemen and the
ladies were, or ought to be, on terms of intimacy; for proffers of
soup, and mutton, and wine were whispered low, and little attempts at
confidential intercourse were made. But the proffers were rejected,
and the attempts were in vain. The ladies preferred to have their
plates and glasses filled by the strangers, turned their shoulders on
their old friends with but scant courtesy, and were quite indifferent
to the frowns which at last clouded those two military brows.

And the brows of Major Biffin and Captain M'Gramm were clouded. They
had been filling the plates and glasses of these two ladies all the
way from Calcutta; they had walked with them every day on deck, had
fetched their chairs, picked up their handkerchiefs, and looked after
their bottled beer at tiffin-time with an assiduity which is more
than commendable in such warm latitudes. And now to be thrown on one
side for two travelling Englishmen, one in a brown coat and the other
in a black one--for two muffs, who had never drunk sangaree or sat
under a punkah!

This was unpleasant to Major Biffin and Captain M'Gramm. But then why
had the major and the captain boasted of the favours they had daily
received, to that soft-looking, superannuated judge, and to their
bilious friend, Dr. O'Shaughnessy? The ju