"I told him the way, and offered to escort them there; I offered to be of any use to them in my power, for I knew every officer in garrison, you know, except our own regiment, that only came in to-day; and just when I was going to offer my arm to the lovely creature at his side, he said that they didn't need my guidance, that they did not desire my society—that he could shoot at a popinjay; now, what the devil is a popinjay?"
"I'm thinking jay is the English for some sort of a pyet—a tale-bearer, as a body may say—a blab."
"A blab!—by heavens, Major M'Toddy, I don't know what to say—if I thought the fellow really meant to insinuate any thing of that kind, I would horsewhip him though I met him in a church."
"Oho! so your conscience is pricked at last?—mens sibi non conscia, as a body may say," answered the major. "Noo, I want to speak to you on a point of great importance to yourself, my young friend, before you get acquainted with the regiment. Hoo long have you been in the depot here, John Chatterton?"
"Eighteen months."
"Weel, man, that's a-year-and-a-half, and you must be almost a man noo."
The youth looked somewhat inclined to be angry at this mode of hinting that he was still rather juvenile—but the major went on.
"And you were engaged, six months ago, to the beauty you used to tell me so much about, Miss Hope of Oakside."
"Yes—yes—well?" replied the youth.
"And what for have ye broke off in such a sudden manner?—unde rixa? as a body may say."