guard from the same regiment! Most attentive, I'm sure!"

The general went up at once to the front rank of the guard, and
proceeded to inspect the men carefully. With his own hands he altered
the hang of the knapsacks and the position of the belts; he measured
in the regular way, with two fingers, the length of the pouch below
the elbow, grumbling to himself as he went along.

"So you use harness-blacking for your pouches. I don't approve of
that. And your pipe-clay; it's got too blue a tinge."

While he lingered thus fondly over the trifling details that, to his
mind, summed up the whole duty of a general officer, his wife's voice
was heard impatiently calling him to her side.

"Come, general, don't be all day! How can you waste time over such
nonsense!"

"My dear," said her husband, gravely, as he rejoined her, "this
regiment is to form part of my brigade"--McKay pricked up his
ears--"it is the first time I have seen any of it. You must allow
me--"

"I am going on into the town; inspecting guards doesn't amuse me," and
the general discreetly abandoned his professional duties and walked on
by her side.

The guard was dismissed by its commander; the men "lodged arms" and
went back to the guard-room. Only Sergeant Hyde remained outside,
watching the retreating figures of the Wilders' party.

"I should have known her voice again amongst a thousand," said the old
sergeant, shaking his head; "and from the glimpse I caught of her she
seemed but little changed. I wonder whether she saw me. Not that she
would have recognised me; I am not what I was. No one here has made me
out, although a dozen years ago I was well known all over the Rock.
Besides, how could she see me? I was on the other flank, and,
fortunately, she left the general to inspect us by himself. Poor man!
I had rather be a sergeant--a private even--than stand in that
general's shoes."

CHAPTER VII.

AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE.

The Wilders' party, after leaving the Waterport, passed through the
Casemate Barrack Square and entered Waterport Street, the chief
thoroughfare of the town. It was a narrow, unpretending street, very
foreign in aspect; the houses tall and overhanging with balconies
filled with flowers; the lattice-shutters gaily painted, having
outside blinds of brilliantly striped stuffs.

The shop fronts were small, the wares common-place; the best show was
at the drapers, where they sold British calicoes and piece-goods in
flaunting