alay
fellow he meets? I'd like to rack 'em!"

"It's such a pity," said Minnie. "Such a good soldier as he is, too.
I've heard Mr Maine say that there isn't a smarter-looking man in his
company; and my uncle praises him too."

"Praises him, my dear!" said the woman, looking at the speaker
round-eyed. "Praises him! A-mussy me, what for?"

"He says he's such a fine-looking man."

"Fine-looking? Oh yes, he's fine-looking enough," said the woman
scornfully.

"And that he is so strong and manly and hearty, and that he never wants
to come on the sick-list."

"Sick-list! No, my dear, he dursen't. He knows only too well that your
dear uncle would know at once what was the matter with him."

"But he's such a smart-looking fellow--so clean, Mr Maine says, that he
is quite a pattern to the others when he comes on parade."

"Oh yes, that's all right, my dear; but who makes him smart? Who cleans
his buttons and buckles, and pipeclays him, but his poor wife? Why,
many's the time I have had to flannel his face and hands before he went
on parade."

"Well, well," said Minnie compassionately, "let's hope he will improve."

"Improve, my dear? I've give up hopes. He says that the climate don't
agree with him, but when we was at Colchester he used to say he was
obliged to take a little to keep off the colic, for the wind off the
east coast was so keen; and the same when we were in Canada. That was
when we were first married, and I was allowed to come on the strength of
the regiment, many long years ago, my dear; and I have done the
officers' washing ever since, or I don't know what we should have done.
Then when we came out to Injy and it was so hot, he used to say if he
didn't have a little something he should be a dead man, because it was
so horrid dry; and now we are stationed here he sticks out that he only
takes a little to keep off the jungle fever. Any one would think he was
fighting against being invalided home, but he don't deceive the
Sergeant, and he tells me that Joe will go too far one of these days;
and he will break my heart if he does, and I'm always in a skeer as I
think and think and wonder how far he will have to go before being sent
home. I don't know what's to become of me if I am sent there. Home,
sweet home, they calls it, Miss Minnie. I suppose you would like to
go?"

"Well, for some things, yes, Mrs Smithers; but I am very happy here."

"Of course you are, my dear. You are so young and