"Go on with your breakfast, boy," cried Brace, with a good-humoured laugh. "Disgraced! You, a mere calf in just learning your drill. If you had been in the troop for four or five years, and made such a blunder, why, it would have been rather disgraceful; but for you! Why, we are quite proud of the rapid way you are picking up the evolutions." "No: you are saying that to comfort me," I cried bitterly. "I have a good many faults, Vincent," he said quietly; "but I don't think insincerity is one of them. If I say a thing to you, my lad, pleasant or unpleasant, you may take it for granted that I believe it to be honest and true." "But the major? What he said to me before all the men was dreadful." "Not at all. He was bound to say it. He might have spoken less harshly; but--wonderful!--here he is." For just then I nearly jumped out of my chair on hearing the major's voice asking for Captain Brace, and the next moment he had stridden into the room. "How nice and cool you are here," he said. "Ah, Vincent, my lad, feel a bit sore after our gallop?" "Yes, sir," I replied, gloomily, as the major seated himself at the table, helped himself to coffee and curry, and began to eat. "You'll soon get over that. It's rough work at first; but use is second nature. I say, that's a very pretty little nag of yours; rather slight, but quite up to your weight. She gallops splendidly. Here, I'm regularly breakfasting. I wanted to have a few words with you, so I came over, as my wife was not down." "Shall I go, sir?" I said, rising. "No, no, my dear boy; sit still." I stared. Not an hour before he was bullying me fiercely before the whole troop. Brace saw my face, and laughed. "Vincent is in the doldrums," he said. "What about?" grumbled the major, with his mouth full of curry. "You asked him if he was sore. He is: about the thrashing you gave him this morning." "Bah! nonsense! Good lesson for you, boy. You won't make that mistake again. You are getting on capitally. Wish we had a couple more of your breed." "There, Vincent," said Brace; "what do you say now?" I could not say anything, only feel as if the morning had suddenly become bright and joyous; and I began to make a wonderful breakfast; while the major chatted over a few matters connected with the discipline of the troop and the behaviour of some of the men. "Well," said Brace, as soon as the major had gone; for he jumped up suddenly on receiving a message from his own quarters, leaving his half-eaten curry and a newly filled cup of coffee. "The general down," he cried. "Bring Vincent over this evening for an hour or two." "Well," said Brace, "how are the spirits now?" "Oh, better," I said, smiling; "but I do wish I was more clever."