him that I shall punish him severely if he makes any more reflections on Mrs. Madigan's character.'

"Thank ye koindly, sorr!' said Timothy; and off he marched, perfectly satisfied, leaving us to laugh over the proof he had submitted of the fact of his being legally noosed.

Colonel Treherne introduced me to Baker, to whose company I was posted, and, after a few kind words of advice, dismissed me.

My brother officers welcomed me most heartily, and I soon felt quite at home. A happier regiment there was not in the army: we liked and respected our colonel, got on well with each other, and, above all, there were no 'cliques' among us; and every one, from the 'chief' downwards, was desirous to uphold the credit of the corps, of which we were justly proud.

In two months' time, I had been dismissed drill, served as supernumerary on guard, and court-martial, and was pronounced fit to do' duty.'

Sam Wallis had done wonders, and the adjutant was so pleased with his attention and endeavours to master all the minutiae of drill, that he allowed him to become my servant much sooner than he would otherwise have done.

This was not quite according to 'regulation;' but as Sam had enlisted with the expressed intention of being my own man,' the Colonel consented to stretch a point in his favour.

FLOWER' AND HER SKIPPER.

'And last of all an admiral came.'

HE 120th, when quartered at Portsmouth, occupied the Anglesea Barracks, situated close to the Convict Prison and the Dockyard Extension Works.

The officers' quarters were in a long two-storeyed red brick building, divided into 'houses;' at one end were the mess premises, and over them the 'Rookery,' where the six junior subalterns lived.

Our front windows looked out on the barracks. Just across the road, and in rear of our block, was a large plot of grass, closed in by the ramparts of the old fortifications, which in those days were still standing.

Mackinlay, Pat Hughes, and I lived in rooms looking out on to this 'compound;' the other occupants of the 'Rookery' were the junior lieutenant Hare, and Meares and Phillips, the senior ensigns.

We used to be much troubled by members of the 'touting fraternity,' vendors of bad cigars, infamous prints, and fourth-rate jewellery; and now and then a sleek and sly-looking individual would pay us a visit, and, after beating about the bush for a while, offer to lend us money on our own note of hand,' etc. etc.

It often puzzled me why these fellows should waste their time and run the risk of being kicked ignominiously down-stairs, as I know for certain they never got a customer from amongst the 120th.

One January afternoon I was sitting at my writing-table, inditing the usual bi-weekly epistle to Mary; Pat Hughes lounged on my bed watching Mackinlay clean his gun, whilst Hare chuckled over an illustrated edition of Jorrock's Jaunts and Jollities.

Presently a suspicious footstep was heard on the landing, and the sound of a person trying the doors down our passage; then came a timid knock at my door.

'More cadgers!' grunted Pat. Shy a boot at the beggar, Jack!'

'Can't; that screen is in the way!'

Again the knock was heard, and the door opened gently.

I was the only one in the room who could see the intruder, for a large six-foot scrap-screen hid him from the others' view. Turning my head, I caught a glimpse of an untidy little old man standing in the doorway. Never for a second doubting but that he was one of our usual visitors, I waved him out of the room, and went on with my letter.

'I beg your pardon, sir!' began the man; but does Mr.'

'No, he does not!' snapped Pat, who had the greatest aversion to touts of any description, and from my behaviour naturally concluded that he was addressing one of that brotherhood. 'We none of us smoke cabbage leaves, and don't care for pictures nor trumpery ornaments, so the sooner you take yourself off the better.'

'But, my good sir'—

'That'll do! clear out of this, or I'll send for the regimental police!'

'You impertinent jackanapes!' thundered the supposed itinerant merchant in an unmistakeable quarter-deck' voice; 'what d'ye mean, sirrah? I'm Admiral Brown!'

Poor Pat he leaped from the bed as though he had been shot; whilst Hare and Mackinlay (both of whom had met the Admiral before, and would have recognised him had not the screen prevented their seeing who it was) came forward and explained how the mistake had originated.

The Admiral's passion melted like snow before the genial influence of the sun, and he roared with laughter at Pat's discomfiture, saying, 'It will be a capital story to tell at the Governor's.'

Now, which of you boys is Frank Warrington?' asked he, when his enjoyment of the joke had ceased.

'I am, sir,' I replied; 'I did not see you very distinctly,

or'

'Very glad you didn't, my young friend,' he answered,

adding dryly, or you might have thought worse of me than your brother officer. But never judge by the out

side, my boy!'

Admiral Brown then explained that he had heard from Mr. Colemore, who was an old friend of his, asking him to look me up and show me any civility in his power.

'I've been away in Norfolk for Christmas, and only came home yesterday, so you see I have lost no time in paying my respects,' said the Admiral. What are you going to do this evening?'

'I am on duty, sir,' I replied, and cannot leave the barracks.'

Hearing this, the old gentleman popped down in my arm-chair, lighted a pipe, and, having been provided with a stiff glass of grog, kept up a flow of facetious small talk, interspersed with humorous yarns and anecdotes, until the 'dress' for mess sounded.

'Won't you stop and dine, sir?' asked Pat. 'I'll rig you out with dress things.'

'Not to-night, Mr. Hughes, thank ye! but if you'll repeat the invitation another day, I'll not say "no.""

'I shall be delighted, Admiral,' answered Pat. 'Friday is our guest night.'

"Then Friday week, shall we say?'

'That will do, sir!'

'Then so be it,' said the Admiral. 'And now to business! James Colemore tells me you're an ardent sportsman, Warrington; have you ever had any wild - fowl shooting?'