e liberty to ask you what you read?"

"What I read! Why, I read Horsburgh's Directory:--and I read--I read
all the fights."

"I think," observed Ansell, "that if a man gets through the newspaper
and the novels of the day, he does a great deal."

"He reads a great deal, I grant you," replied the major; "but of what
value is that description of reading?"

"There, major," replied Ansell, "we are at issue. I consider a
knowledge of the passing events of the day, and a recollection of the
facts which have occurred during the last twenty years, to be more
valuable than all the ancient records in existence. Who talks of Caesar
or Xenophon now-a-days, except some Cambridge or Oxford prig? and of
what value is that knowledge in society? The escape of a modern
pickpocket will afford more matter of conversation than the famous
retreat of the ten thousand."

"To be sure," replied Captain Oughton; "and a fair stand-up fight
between Humphreys and Mendoza create more interest than the famous
battles of ---, I'm sure I forget."

"Of Marathon and Thermopylae; they will do," added Ansell.

"I grant," replied the major, "that it is not only un-necessary, but
conceited in those who would show their reading; but this does not
disprove the advantages which are obtained. The mind well fed becomes
enlarged: and if I may use a simile, in the same way as your horse
proves his good condition by his appearance, without ascertaining the
precise quantity of oats which has been given him; so the mind shows by
its general vigour and power of demonstration, that it has been well
supplied with `hard food.'"

"Very _hard food_ indeed," replied Captain Oughton; "nuts that I never
could crack when I was at school, and don't mean to break my teeth with
now. I agree with Mr Ansell, `that sufficient for the day is the
knowledge thereof.'"

"Well as the tree of knowledge was the tree of evil, perhaps that is the
correct reading," replied Ansell, laughing; "Captain Oughton, you are a
very sensible man; I hope we shall see you often at our mess, when we're
again on shore."

"You may say so now," replied Captain Oughton, bluntly, "and so have
many more said the same thing to me; but you soldiers have cursed short
memories in that way after you have landed."

"I trust, Captain Oughton," replied Major Clavering, "that you will not
have to make that accusation general."

"Oh! never mind, major, I never am affronted; the offer is made in
kindnes