hat,
"if the olive-crown of the Hippodrome had fallen to the lot of
Cambridge, none would deny her sister's claim to the parsley of the
caestus." The second time was very late in the evening, by M'Diarmid. It
must be confessed that gallant chieftain was somewhat incoherent, and
amid protestations of admiration and eternal friendship, much to our
astonishment, wept profusely. Still later, he got very maudlin indeed,
and was heard to murmur, looking at his scarred knuckles, that "he was
afraid he must have hurt some one that night," with an accent of
heartfelt sorrow and contrition which was inimitable.

We heard afterward that the taunt which made the fight a certainty came
from the commissioner of the party who stood heavily against the Big
'un, sent down to watch him in his training, and spy out the joints in
his harness.

CHAPTER V.

"As he rode down the sanctified bends of the Bow,
Each carline was flyting and shaking her pow;
But the young Plants of Grace they looked couthie and slee,
Saying, 'Luck to thy bonnet, thou bonnie Dundee.'"

In the autumn of that year my chest became so troublesome that I was
obliged to try Italy. Thither I went; and, about the same time, Guy was
gazetted to the ---- Life Guards. The struggle between climate and
constitution was protracted, and for a long time doubtful; but winters
without fog, and springs without cold winds, worked wonders, and at last
carried the day. In the fourth year they told me I might risk England
again. Moving homeward slowly, I reached London about the beginning of
December--a most unfavorable season, it is true; but I was weary of
foreign wandering, and wanted to spend Christmas somewhere in the
fatherland, though where I had not yet determined.

I had heard tolerably often from Livingstone during my absence. His
letters were very amusing, containing all sorts of news, and remarks on
men and manners. They would have pleased me more if they had not
indicated a vein of sarcasm deepening into cynicism.

I stand very much alone in this world, and had few family visits to
detain me; so, on the morning after my arrival, I went down to the
Knightsbridge barracks, where Guy's regiment happened to be quartered.

It was a field-day, his servant said, and his master was out with his
troop; but he expected him in very shortly. Captain Forrester was
waiting breakfast for him up stairs.

As I entered the room, its occupant turned his hea