"No sir; I was studying there, but I had the pleasure of bringing that to an end last June."
"Ah!--Well, what are you now? Not a cadet any longer, I suppose."
"No sir--we hatch out of that shell lieutenants."
"Hum.--And do you intend to remain in the army?"
"Certainly sir, that is my purpose and hope."
"Your mother would not like that, I should judge. I do not understand how she ever made up her mind to let you become that thing which hatches out into a lieutenant. Gentle creatures she and her sister both were.--How was it, Mr. Rossitur? were you a wild young gentleman that wanted training?"
"I have had it sir, whether I wanted it or no."
"Hum!--How is he, Mr. Carleton?--sober enough to command men?"
"I have not seen him tried, sir," said this gentleman smiling; "but from tho inconsistency of the orders he issues to his dogs I doubt it exceedingly."
"Why Carleton would have no orders issued to them at all, I believe," said young Rossitur; "he has been saying 'hush' to me all day." The old gentleman laughed in a way that indicated intelligence with one of the speakers,--which, appeared not.