"

"This is too bad, Kate," Charlie said, laughing. "What excuse have you
to make for yourself for remaining single, with all these advantages
of face and fortune?"

"Simply that I didn't like any of them," Katie said. "The beaux of the
present day are contemptible. I would as soon think of marrying a wax
doll. When I do marry; that is, if ever I do, it shall be a man, and
not a mere tailor's dummy."

"You are pert, miss," her uncle said.

"Do what I will, Charlie, I cannot teach the hussy to order her
tongue."

"Katie's quite right, Uncle," Charlie laughed. "And I must make it my
duty to find a man who will suit her taste; though, according to your
account of her, he will find it a hard task to keep such a Xanthippe
in order."

Katie tossed her head.

"He'd better not try," she said saucily, "or it will be worse for
him."

Two days later, Charlie's elder sister returned with her family to her
house at Sevenoaks; where Charlie promised, before long, to pay her a
visit. After she had gone, Charlie and Peters, with Katie, made a
series of excursions to all the points of interest, round London; and
on these occasions Ada usually accompanied them.

The natural consequences followed. Charlie had, for years, been the
hero of Ada's thoughts; while Katie had heard so frequently of Peters
that she was, from the first, disposed to regard him in the most
favourable light. Before the end of two months, both couples were
engaged; and as both the young officers possessed ample means, and the
ladies were heiresses, there was no obstacle to an early union.

The weddings took place a month later; and Tim was, in the exuberance
of his delight, hilariously drunk for the first and only time during
his service with Charlie. Both gentlemen bought estates in the
country, and later took their seats in Parliament, where they
vigorously defended their former commander, Lord Clive, in the
assaults which were made upon him.

Tim married, seven or eight years after his master, and settled down
in a nice little house upon the estate. Although, henceforth, he did
no work whatever; he insisted, to the end of his life, that he was
still in Colonel Marryat's service.

Hossein, to the great amusement of his master and mistress, followed
Tim's example. The pretty cook of Charlie's establishment made no
objection to his swarthy hue. Charlie built a snug cottage for them,
close to the house, where they took up their residence; but Hossein,