“God bless me! what was it?”
“Why, you see, Major, I know you are a gentleman every bit of you; and if you will solemnly pledge me your honour that you will never mention it to any body, I’ll tell you the whole affair.”
“’Pon my honour, I won’t. I pledge you my honour, I will not mention it.”
“’Pon your honour,” said Morris emphatically.
“’Pon my honour!” echoed the Major.
“Well, that’s enough,” observed Morris; “I’ll tell you all about it. But shut the door, Major.”—The Major obeyed and hurried back to his chair.—“Well, then, you see, when I was in the 31st, I owed a little money here and there; and I was bothered with duns—Oh! the 31st was a fine regiment; it was there we had plenty of credit wherever we went: more is the pity for me; because I just—one day that I was short of a little money”—(whispering)
“Well, Sir!” interrupted the Major.
“I—a—just—a—put a few of the mess-table spoons and silver forks into my pocket;—that’s all.”
“Indeed!” observed the Major, drawing back his chair.
“Yes, indeed,” continued Morris; “and a fellow there, dressed up in livery (they call him the mess-waiter), saw me do it, and stopped me before the officers;—so I was obliged to leave the regiment; for the colonel was a civil fellow, and let me off without a court-martial.”