Still, with all that, the general said he was
full of curiosity to see what had really been
done in three weeks. When I looked out at
daybreak this morning it was snowing. I
never hated snow so much before; for I knew
that a multitude of people meant to go to the
parade;—mothers, and wives, and sisters,
partly to see the sight, and partly to get the
men home with their pay in their pockets,
instead of its being wasted at the public-house.

And there they were, though the snow
was two inches deep on the common, and of
course, much deeper in the lanes. Our parson
was there, ready to make us admire his
prophecies, when we should see the fellows
staggering drunk, and all that. It was the best
fun in the world to see him. You know, he
likes to show his height and so moves about
slowly, like a battering-tower on wheels.
Several times to-day he got entangled among
the companies, and was driven this way and
that. He got confused, and could not make up
his mind what to do, and what call to attend
to. You may be sure we quizzed him. My
father asked what he thought now of training
and discipline, in case of invasion; because it
seemed that if each of us went on his own
hook before the enemy, we might trip one
another up, and lay ourselves low rather than
the foe. The Doctor acknowledged that training
gives readiness and a certain sort of power:
but he shook his head about the scenes we
were to see to-night.

By this time the fellows were at their
manual exercise. How delighted the children
were, to be sure!—and the women,
too! The babies did not like it, though—
poor little red-nosed things! They did not
know their fathers in their red coats, and
would not go to them afterwards. Even the
elder children stared as if their daddies had
grown taller, or become gentlemen. Ned
Barry's face will always be the same; but
you should see him walk now. He was the
largest man on the common to-day; and it
was the drollest thing to see the little tailor
follow him about, wanting to stitch up a hole
—of all things to do at a review! The fact
is, Ned has grown stout under good rations,
and what is to him moderate exercise; and
the coat which was made out of two is
already too small.

The marching in quick time was very
good; and they deployed and formed square,
and seemed, to say the truth, so like real
soldiers, that some people I know would not
see the difference. And real soldiers they
may be, one of these days. You need not
laugh, for the General himself said so. At
the end, he made them form square, and
addressed them. It was a grand speech, as
I told you. You will see it in the
newspapers; so I need only say that he declared
he could not have believed on any testimony
but his own eyes, that such things could
have been done in the time; that he should
report personally to the Secretary of State
the wonderful efficiency already of the
Rampshire militia; and that he only hoped he
might see the regiment one day under his
command. There's for you! You might
have heard the cheering miles off, for the
men have learned to cheer too. Captain
Helsham told the General—I heard him
myself—that he had learned a lesson.
He little thought ever to see nine
hundred bumpkins pass three weeks in hard
fag and school instruction, without breaking
off into vice or disorder—ready to learn
obedience, and everything else, and capable
of being brightened up as these men were.
He was now convinced that we were a
military nation, if we only desired it. And
then the General complimented my father
and his volunteers for their zeal; for their
company will turn out an uncommonly fine
one. Then we came home. The Doctor
would not come with us, thinking it his duty
to stay at Elwich to discountenance the vice
that was sure to follow the breaking up.
However, he came in before we had done our
soup. The men had all gone home, and he
did not see any more vice than usual; so he
wisely came to us for the advantage of the
General's conversation.

How tired I am! I may say so; for all
these officers said they were. And now, we
have only to wait, as well as we can, till
April; and then, at it again! Hurra! for
the Rampshire Militia!

Your affectionate brother,
W. WARNER.

P.S. You will be asking about the short
sixes; so I had better tell you that we
decided to put off the scheme. We could not get
on very well without officers to drill us;
and Bob Vickers and Harry would not obey
me, for anything I could say; and it was
bitterly cold that first day.

EDWARD BARRY TO NANCY JESSOP.

Elwich, July 10th.

MY DEAR NAN,—I don't know what you
will say to seeing this letter, instead of your
Ned himself: but none of us know what is
in store for us; and I little thought, when
you kindly walked part of the way with me
this day month, that I should have to go so
much further before we met again. Now
don't let that dear heart of yours flutter,
in any fear that Ned is going to desert
you. No such thing. Only, I must not
desert my service—my duty to my queen
and country. I must, for a time, go further
from you, but only to be yours more than
ever when I come again—yours as fast locked
as the parson can make us. And now I must
tell you how this came about. First,
however, you need not think that anybody
knows now what I write to yon. That
used to be the drawback, you said; and
sorry and ashamed I was to be behind you
in the arts of reading and writing, and afraid