The toast was quaffed with enthusiasm. Young Inverawe alone seemed to feel that there was no joy in the cup for him. "Would I had a commission too!" said he, in a tone of extreme vexation. "Boy," said Inverawe, gravely, "Your time is coming. It will be well for you to stay at home to look after your mother. One of us two is enough in the field at once." "Am I then to be doomed to sloth and idleness at home?" said Donald, pettishly; "better put petticoats on me at once, and give me a distaff to wield." "Speak not so, Donald," said his mother, in a trembling voice. "You are hardly old enough for such warlike undertakings; and, indeed, your father says what is but too true--for what could I do, were both of you to be torn from me?" Donald said no more. The cup circulated. George Campbell was in high spirits, and full of happy anticipations. "I hope we may soon be sent on service," said he, exultingly. "You may have service sooner than you dream of," said Inverawe, going on to gather the remainder of the contents of his packet. "Grant writes me here, that in consequence of the turn which matters are taking in America, he hopes every day for the arrival of an order for the regiment to embark. George, you and I must lose no time in making up our kitts, for we must join the corps with all manner of expedition." The parting between Inverawe and his lady was tender and touching. Donald bid his father farewell with less appearance of regret than his known affection for him would have led any one to have anticipated. There was even a certain smile of triumph on his countenance as he saw them depart. But his mother was too much overwhelmed by her own feelings, to notice any thing regarding those of her son. The meeting between Inverawe and his old brother officers was naturally a joyous one, and nothing could be more delightful than the warmth of the reception he met with from his long-tried friend Colonel Grant, now the commanding-officer of the corps. "My dear fellow, Inverawe!" said he, cordially shaking him by the hand, "This happy circumstance of having got you amongst us again, is even more gratifying to me than my own promotion, and yet, let me tell you, the peculiar circumstances attending that were gratifying enough." "I need not assure you that the news of it were most gratifying to me," replied Inverawe. "It doubled the happiness I felt, in getting the majority, to find that I was to serve under so old and so much valued a friend. But to what particular circumstances do you allude?"