“Bravo!” was repeated by many voices.
The motion was carried by acclamation, and Lieut. and Adjt. Wigwell posted off an orderly for some of the musicians.
They soon made their appearance, and a fine swarthy set of fellows they were, with their chimney-pot caps. There was a little preliminary clatter in the verandah, and pitching of instruments, when suddenly clarionet, cymbal, and trombone broke forth in a glorious and soul-inspiring lilt.
Tables were removed, chairs thrust out, partners engaged, and the younger portion of Mrs. Brownstout’s party—as if suddenly bitten by tarantulas—were whirling and bobbing through the mazes of the merry dance; I footing it away, with Maria for my partner, as well as the best of them.
A neat supper, with songs, serious and comic, à la mode Indienne, and the collector quite uproarious, terminated one of the pleasantest evenings I had yet spent in Bengal.
Miss Julia went home in her palkee; Tom and I escorted her to her bungalow on foot; the former making seven-league strides, in order to converse a little by the way; I pelting away after him as vigorously as the man with the steam leg, though not having an equal interest in such violent locomotion.
The period was now approaching when I was to bid adieu to Barrackpore for the Upper Provinces, and exchange the life of mingled drill and gaiety, of which the foregoing little tableaux may serve to give some idea, for one of constant change from scene to scene, and more in consonance with a roving disposition.
I was appointed to a regiment at Agra, but about to move to Delhi, the capital of India, and which is, or was, associated in our minds with all, or much, that is glorious and striking in Eastern history.
A Captain Belfield, of infantry, from Java, one of the Indian army of occupation there, going up the country to a staff appointment, kindly offered to take me under his wing, and afford me the benefit of his experience.
Though a totally different man in every respect, he was a friend of Marpeet, who sent me a letter of introduction to him; the conclusion of it, which I afterwards saw, was rather characteristic of the captain: