sort of
laugh, the lieutenant went into the colonel's tent; though, if he
expected to see Miss Ross, he was disappointed, for so long as I was on
guard, she did not shew any more that night.

Off again the next morning, and over a hotter and dustier road than
ever; and I must say that I began to wish we were settled down in
barracks again, for everything seemed to grow more and more crooked, and
people more and more unpleasant. Why, even Mrs Bantem that morning
before starting must shew her teeth, and snub Lantern, and then begin
going on about the colonel's wife, and the fine madam, her sister,
having all sorts of luxuries, while poor hard-working soldiers' wives
had to bear all the burden and heat of the day; while, by way of winding
up, she goes up to Harry Lant and Measles, who were, as usual,
squabbling about something, and boxes both their ears, as if they had
been bad boys. I saw them both colour up fierce; but the next minute
Harry Lant bursts out laughing, and Measles does the same, and then they
two did what I should think they never did before--they shook hands; but
Mrs Bantem had no sooner turned away with tears in her eyes, because
she felt so cross, than the two chaps fell out again about some stupid
thing or another, and kept on snarling and snapping at each other all
along the march.

But there, bless you! that wasn't all I saw Mrs Maine talking to her
sister in a quick earnest sort of way, and they both seemed out of
sorts; and the colonel swore at the tent-men, and bullied the adjutant,
and he came round and dropped on to us, finding fault with the men's
belts, and that upset the sergeants. Then some of the baggage didn't
start right, and Lieutenant Leigh had to be taken to task by Captain
Dyer, as in duty bound; while, when at last we were starting, if there
wasn't a tremendous outcry, and the young colonel--little Cock Robin,
you know--kicking, and screaming, and fighting the old black nurse,
because he mightn't draw his little sword, and march alongside of Harry
Lant!

Now, I'm very particular about putting all this down, because I want you
to see how we all were one with the other, and how right through the
battalion little things made us out of sorts with one another, and
hardly friendly enough to speak, so that the difference may strike you,
and you may see in a stronger light the alteration and the behaviour of
people when trouble came.

All the same, though, I don't think it's possible