"Allan Grange," said Major Middleton, raising his voice clearly and distinctly, that the whole of the hollow square and even its supernumerary ranks might hear, "you are the last man in the whole Borderers whom I could have expected to see standing before us as you do to-day. In cutting off your stripes I feel extreme reluctance and sorrow, and I think you have known me long enough to be aware of that." "I am, major--I am aware of it," said the reduced man in a hollow voice. "Allan Grange, you have come of a respectable old Scottish stock in Lothian: you were born in my native place, and are one of the many fine lads who came with me to the line from the Buccleugh Fencibles. I know well how, in your native village, the Stenhouse, your name and progress have been watched by early friends and old schoolfellows; by none more than your father, who now lies in Liberton kirkyard, by the good old mother who nursed you; by the old dominie who taught you; by the grey-haired minister who will ere long see your name affixed, as that of a degraded man, on the kirk-door. I know how, at the village inn on the braehead, in the smithy at the loan-end, at the mill beside the burn, it would be known that Allan Grange had been made a corporal--that he had gained his third stripe--that he had been made a colour-sergeant; and I can imagine how the listeners would drink to your health and to mine, in the hope that we should one day see you an officer; and now--_now_--by one act of folly you are again at the foot of the ladder!" A heavy sigh escaped the sergeant; the drum-major's knife gave a final rip, and he stood once more a private on parade! "The worst part of your sentence yet remains--unless--unless you volunteer into the York Chasseurs." "Major Middleton," said Grange, firmly, and standing erect, like a fine man as he was, "I'll not leave the regiment!" The man was fearfully pale, and it was evident to all that Middleton, though a strict and sometimes severe officer, was greatly moved. "You will rather take three hundred and fifty lashes than volunteer?" he asked. "I'd volunteer for a forlorn hope; I've done so before now, sir, as you know well, but I'll not quit the old 25th for a condemned corps. I'll take my punishment--I've earned it like a fool, and with God's help, I hope to bear it like a man." "Then strip, sir," said Middleton, playing nervously with the blue ribbons of his gorget. All emotion seemed to pass away as the culprit proceeded deliberately to unclasp his leather stock and unbutton his coat; but before it was off the major exclaimed in a loud voice, as he drew a letter from his pocket-- "_Stop!_" Grange paused, and looked up with a haggard and bloodshot eye. "I remit the rest of the sentence, for the sake of one who intercedes for you." "Sir?"