s, and at the time sincere; but when people get on shore, and are
so occupied with their own amusements, it is not to be wondered if they
are thoughtless and forget. At one time, it did annoy me, I confess;
for when I say I should be happy to see a man, I mean it; and if I did
not mean it, I never would ask him. I thought that other people did the
same; but I have lived long enough to discover that a `general
invitation,' means, `don't come at all.'"

"Then I most certainly shall not say one word on the subject at
present," replied the major. "How many bells was that?"

"Six; dinner will be on the table in a few minutes."

"Then, gentlemen, we had better go down and prepare. Why, Mr Irving,
you have not shaved this morning."

"No, major, I mean to do it after dinner."

"I should rather think that you intended to say before," replied Major
Clavering.

This gentlemanlike hint was taken by the young ensign, who was aware
that Major Clavering, although invariably polite even in reproof, was
not a commanding officer to be trifled with; and Mr Irving made his
appearance at the dinner table with his "chin new reaped," and smooth as
if appertaining to one of the fairer sex.

VOLUME THREE, CHAPTER NINE.

Come o'er the sea,
Maiden, with me,
Mine through sunshine, storm and snows;
Seasons may roll,
But the true soul
Burns the same where'er it goes.
Let fate frown on, so we love and part not,
'Tis life where thou art, 'tis death where thou'rt not.
MOORE.

The voyage was at last accomplished without adventure or interest, the
Windsor Castle not having fallen in with more than two or three vessels
during her passage. Happy were the military officers to hear the order
given for the anchor to be let go upon their arrival in Madras Roads;
more happy were they to find themselves again on shore; and most happy
were Captain Oughton and his officers to witness the debarkation of the
troops, who had so long crowded their decks and impeded their motions.
Parting was indeed sweet sorrow, as it always will be when there is
short allowance of room and still shorter allowance of water.

Newton Forster was in a state of anxiety during the quarter of an hour
in which he was obliged to attend to his duty, furling the sails and
squaring the yards; and the time appeared most insupportably long, until
he could venture aft to make some inquiries from the dubashes, who were
crowding alongside, as to the fate of