"I always liked him for his frank, honest, open manner, and the way he set to work to learn his duties--riding-school, foot-drill, sword-exercise,--no matter what it was, he worked at it; learned quietly and cheerfully; and in a wonderfully short time made himself a smart soldier. You never heard him snubbed for dirty belts or rusty accoutrements; everything belonging to him shone like silver or gold; while his horse was groomed till its skin was like satin. The men called him `Model Jack;' for whenever some one on parade was having it for want of smartness, without pausing for a moment, the captain, or major, would shout, `Rein back, John Morris,' tell the one in trouble to look at him and his traps, and then order so much punishment-drill. "But we all liked John Morris; and there was not a man in the troop would have said a word against him, or done him an ill turn; for wasn't he always ready to help a mate who was sick, or do a turn for a young beginner? But he was only a weak man, and he must do what no soldier who has any respect for a woman should do--he must get in love with a nice pretty little body, who was foolish enough to take a fancy to the fine smart young fellow. Seeing what a superior sort of lass she was, if it had been any other man in the troop, I'd have done what I could to stop it; but knowing the lad's character--no smoker, no drinker; but one who spent all his spare time in the barrack reading-room--I couldn't say a word; and so matters went on till we got the route, and were to be shifted from Edinburgh to Hounslow. "Next time I saw John Morris, I knew there was something the matter; and after stable he comes to me, and in a blunt, straightforward way, he says-- "`Sergeant, I want to be married. Will you speak to the officers for me?' "`No, my lad,' I says, `I won't.' "He started, and looked surprised; for I was gruff; while as a rule I was always as friendly to him as I could be to a private--though there wasn't a man in the troop who speaking honestly would tell you I was ever a bully. "`Look here, my lad,' I says: `if you respect that little lass, you'll just say good-bye to her kindly, and for good; or else tell her to wait till you can buy yourself out, and go into something civilian.' "`But--' he began. "`There, hold your tongue, my lad; and just go up to the married men's quarters, and look at the want of common comforts in the accommodation; look at the misery of their life; and then, if you're not satisfied, go and look at the poor women who are not on the strength of the regiment-- married without leave, you know--and see whether you'd like to see your little maid brought down to that.' "`But I've always done my duty, sergeant, and the colonel would give me leave to be married, and I'd do more to make her comfortable than--' "`Major Ellis wants Sergeant Rollin,' shouts some one; and, seeing that was me, I jumped up.