The Compleat Bachelor

the inconsiderableness of the place, was in London. I met him at the Bassishaws' when Arthur, in tones of infinite respect, had pointed out to my no

d whispered, "do you know wh

ame," I observ

kirmishes in India! Led an attack on some darned place or other in-I forget the date

I said. "P

most apologetically, and I had since i

to a place where a full numerical half of the population (and a much larger proportion in every other respect) consisted of women, was very pleasant to watch. The luxury

one evening, "this is home, you know! It's like one b

s truer than he had any idea of; but

aving the full measure all at once. It is to you what tiger-

out "Gad"), "it's marvellous! And all wit

e of tropical cookery he call

r; and, by Gad, except for a dahi that Powell kept (Powell's wife was never strong), there wasn't anothe

knowing that his glimpse was too good to have lasted, and returned to his old order of things. The rustle of a silk skirt was an unstaled wonder to him; and t

l, his diffidence was marked. His chivalrous devotion was Quixotic, but most of them would have bartered

he remarked, "but he is absolutely embarrassed when I present

y account for it on the supposition of instinct. He knows your propensities,

ed women," she returned. "What is ther

oring," I replied. "He gets along

she replied, somew

. "Friendship generally varies inversely as th

id, half to herself. "Do you think

se, a youthful widow, was Cicely Vicars'

honourable scars of war and climate, not earned his peace? Would you, now that his body is broken on the outposts of an Empire for your protection, harrow the boyish s

e too fond of it; and I shall be-nice-to the

hich was always the same-the development of the Colonel's intimacy with Mrs. Gervase. Mrs. Loring's methods were old eno

on is no end of a fine woman, by Gad! She's loyal, by Gad! The way she stands by that little

et Mrs. Gervase,

by Gad! Quiet, you know. That's what I like about an Englis

y. And what do you th

that was a joy to see,-"she was awfully quiet, Butterfield-only looked at you; but I

I asked with an irony that was for my priv

erfield, displayed an intelligence, by Gad, on transport, and commissariat, an

I answered. "She asked you how ofte

o hear about that kind of thing, you know, Butterfield. You'

ngratulate you, Colonel, on hav

, of course, widow or no widow; but s

herself set down a child. The Colonel, unconsciously, had i

ep consideration, made the next move. We were to call on Mrs. Charlie

ind, Butterfield," he said; "and, by

rself, Coke," I sai

ady found means to entertain me, while Coke applied himself to the creation of a c

e a fancy to Emily, Mr. Butterfield

d veteran in the evening of his life, his grim battles behi

looked rou

hts in which their f

Mr. Butterfield. He can't be muc

I admitted, "and perhaps a little too juv

look it, Mr.

it. Let us talk about something else. Ho

encement of Cicely Vicars's family. I had been presented to him in his cot some days before, but bey

lled Percival; and oh, Mr. Butterfield, he's

hesi

"I never ascertained precisely to what the position pledged me, but I have an

those were-other peop

cating eye on me. I

e days of small families, for any one person. But no, Mrs.

have

man, Mrs. V

her along. It was the very thing! We approached the couple. The Colo

said. He

are to stand godfather to Mrs.

vivid gamboge,

ed. "Wha-what's t

, "at the investiture of a fellow-m

grasped the edge of the sofa with

tening! What the devil-me a godf

n-you must! A man with the Victoria Cross cannot get out of

ng his brow, "I'd rathe

did it for us, and we keep up the tradition.

tatement, but it seemed to go. Cok

hispered. "I shall shake like a recruit. I shan't know

cedure of christenings were undoubt

hat's all right, Coke. You shall wear your uniform and

family? You'll pardon me, ladies, but I-you ar

ther, Colonel. I forgot you hadn't met h

he position, but seemed to find none. He rose, a

s for you for twelve months than undertake this-this post

s white moustaches nervously

with a man easily twenty years her senior. The position of godfather to a succeeding generation, apart from the edification of seeing such a man as Coke in such a capacity, wa

was over, and Coke was composing his nerves with green Indian cigars. He had sat medit

over; but, by Gad, never again! They s

said in

t, and faced full round on me-"it was little Cissie Munro, who threw me over before I left, thirty years ago! By Gad"-he sank back in his chair-"you could have pulled my shoulder-

tainly a c

s, Mrs. Gervase. Well, I was all at sea; the whole thing was too infernally odd. It didn't seem right, somehow, that I should be thrown over by one wo

uestionableness

ld,-but as to Mrs. Gervase, that was another matter. I can help that. And she's a

perhaps, better,