"But, to return to what we were talking of," said Warriston, earnestly and kindly. "Can I advise you in any way, my friend? Are you already a prodigal, who has neither a herd of promising pigs, nor the husks wherewith to feed them?" "Excuse me entering much into my own affairs. My father, I have told you, is dead. I have no mother--no friends--to counsel me," he continued, in a tremulous voice, "and I know not whether to join the service or drown myself in the nearest river." "The Ayr is not very deep," said Monkton, despite a deprecatory glance from his senior; "why don't you say hang yourself?" "Well, then, or hang myself," said Quentin, bitterly. "And the alternative is joining the service?" "Yes." "You pay his Majesty and his uniform a high compliment," said Warriston, with a hearty laugh, in which Quentin, seeing the ungraciousness of his remark, was fain to join; "but as for entering the ranks, you must not think of that. Why not do as I did, and many better men have done--join some regiment of Cavalry or Infantry, as a gentleman volunteer?" A new light seemed to break upon Quentin with these words--a new hope and spirit flashed up in his heart. "How, sir," he asked, "how, sir? Explain to me, pray." "Zounds, man! it is very simple. A letter of recommendation to the officer commanding any regiment now under orders for the seat of war, a few pounds in your pocket to pay your way till under canvas or before the enemy, are all that is necessary." "Thanks to a dear friend, I have money enough and to spare; but the letter----" "We have too many volunteers already with both battalions of the Scots Brigade," said Warriston, reflectively. "But you can give him a letter to our commanding officer," interposed Monkton. "Why not give him one yourself, Dick?" "Old Middleton would never believe in any person who was warmly recommended for the first vacant commission by such a fellow as I." "Egad, you are perhaps right," said Warriston, laughing; "get me ink and paper, Pimple----" "Boyle," said the ensign, sullenly. "Beg pardon, Boyle, I mean--thanks. Here goes for all the virtues that were ever recorded on a rich man's tombstone." With great readiness Captain Warriston wrote a letter of introduction and recommendation for Quentin to the officer commanding the 25th Foot, in which he gave him as many good qualities as the sheet of paper could contain, and wrote of him as warmly as if he had known him from boyhood. It was unanimously approved of by all present--by none more than Quentin himself, and after it was duly scaled, he pocketed it as carefully as ever Gil Blas did his patent of nobility. CHAPTER XXIII. NEW FRIENDS. "Why unite to banish care? Let him come our joys to share; Doubly blest our cup shall flow When it soothes a brother's woe; 'Twas for this the powers divine Crowned our board with generous wine." TANNAHILL.