“Bah! You don’t want a man to be gentlemanly and kind. You have got to learn to be a soldier—an artilleryman, not a molly. But, there, don’t you be uneasy about that. I’ll see that you are not spoiled. Got your servants yet?”
“No; there is nothing settled. I have only just come.”
“No horses, I suppose?”
“No. Captain Brace said he would help me to get a couple.”
“Hum! Deal he knows about horses. Better let me buy them for you. I know just the thing for you: plenty of speed, showy, and grand action—sort of a charger that wouldn’t do for me. Not up to my weight, but it would carry you splendidly. Brace always was the worst mounted man in the brigade. Better try a cigar.”
I declined again, and sat chatting to my brother-officer till I thought I had been with him long enough, when I rose to go.
“What! off already?” he said. “Oh, well, if you can’t stay. But you haven’t swallowed your drink.”
I declined that too, feeling that he must be looking down upon me with the most utter contempt; but he said nothing till I had shaken hands.
“Then I shall look out for a charger for you?”
“Please no; not till I have spoken to Captain Brace.”