'
"'Oh, Tom, dear,' said she, 'I have thought of that,' and unslinging
one from her shoulders put it to my lips, and I believe I would have
drained it at a draft, but she snatched it away directly, and said:
"'Oh, do 'ee think of that dreadful stroke of the sun, Tom. It will
set you crazy if you drink any more.'
"'The stroke of the sun be anged!' said I; 'it's not in my ead this
time--it's in the other end of me.'
"'Oh dear, dear!' said Betty; 'two such marks as them, and you so
handsome too! Oh dear, dear!'
"Poor old soul! it's a way she had of trying to come round me.
"'Where is it?' said M'Clure.
"'In the calf of my leg,' said I.
"Well, he was a handy man, for he had been a hospital-sargeant, on
account of being able to read doctors' pot-hooks and inscriptions. So
he cut my boot, and stript down my stocking and looked at it. Says he,
'I must make a turn-and-quit.'
"'Oh, Rory,' said I, 'don't turn and quit your old comrade that way.'
"'Oh, Rory, dear,' said Betty, 'don't 'ee leave Tom now--don't 'ee,
that's a good soul.'
"'Pooh!' said he, 'nonsense! How your early training has been
neglected, Jackson!'
"'Rory,' said I, 'if I was well you wouldn't dare to pass that slur
upon me. I am as well-trained a soldier and as brave a man as ever you
was.'
"'Tut, tut, man,' said he, 'I meant your learning.'
"'Well,' says I, 'I can't brag much of that, and I am not sorry for
it.
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