at it was the king's livery and something to be
proud on. I am proud of mine, even if it has got a bit raggy-taggy with
sleeping out in it in all sorts of weather, and rooshing through bushes
and mud, and crossing streams. But soldiers don't think of that sort of
thing, and we shall all have new things served out by-and-by. Well, go
on."

"Oh, that's about all, Punch."

"You get on. I know better. Tain't half all. I want you to come to
the cutting off and taking the shilling."

"Oh, you want to hear that?"

"Why, of course I do. Why, it's all the juicy part. Don't hang fire.
Let's have it with a rush now. Fix bayonets, and at them!"

"Why, Punch," said Pen, laughing, "don't you tell me again that you are
not getting better!"

"I waren't going to now. This warms a fellow up a bit. I say, your
uncle is a bad un, and no mistake. There, forward!"

"But I have nearly told all, Punch. Life got so miserable at home, and
I was so sick of the law, that I led such a life with my uncle through
begging him to let me go back to the school, that he, one day--"

"Well, whatcher stopping for?" cried the boy, whose cheeks were flushed
and eyes sparkling with excitement.

"I don't like talking about it," replied Pen. "I suppose I was wrong,
for my father had left all the management of my affairs in his
brother-in-law's hands."

"Why, you said your uncle's hands just now!"

"Yes, Punch; in my mother's brother's hands, so he was my uncle."

"Well, go on."

"And I had been begging him to alter his plans."

"Yes, and let you go back to the school?"

"And I suppose he was tired out with what he called my obstinacy, and he
told me that if ever I dared to mention the army again he would give me
a sound flogging."

"And you up and said you would like to catch him at it?" cried Punch
excitedly. "No, Punch; but I lost my temper."

"Enough to make you! Then you knocked him down?"

"No, Punch, but I told him he was forgetting the commands my father had
given him, and that I would never go to the lawyer's office again."

"Well, and what then?"

"Then, Punch? Oh, I don't like to talk about it. It makes me feel hot
all over even to think."

"Of course it does. It makes me hot too; but then, you see, I'm weak.
But do go on. What happened then?"

"He knocked me down," said the lad hoarsely.

"Oh!" cried the boy, trying to spring up from his rough couch, but
sinking back with the great beads of perspiratio