‘What a glorious sight! how noble they look!’ cried Jack aloud. ‘How I should love to ride in their ranks!’
‘Would you, indeed, sonny?’ said a voice behind him, and, turning, Jack beheld Sergeant Barrymore, a kindly smile on his sunburnt features, regarding him with a quizzical smile.
CHAPTER IV.
JACK BECOMES A LANCER.
‘AND so you’d like to be a soldier, would you?’ said the sergeant jokingly.
‘I think I should,’ replied Jack with a blush; ‘the men did look so grand. I’ve never seen a Lancer regiment before.’
‘It’s not all beer and skittles in the army,’ said the sergeant; ‘but a lad of mettle might do worse. You know what the song says,’ and the sergeant sang in a bass voice:
‘A soldier’s life’s a life of glory,
Told in song and gallant story,
and so on; but you need not believe all that. However, now let us get some breakfast;’ and after a wash, feeling quite himself again save for his sore feet and stiff knee, Jack was soon seated at table with the sergeant and his wife.
The regiment, Jack heard, was going to London to form a guard of honour and escort to the Queen on some state function.
‘And tired enough the chaps’ll be when they get in to-night,’ said the sergeant.