Morris had served in a regiment before he joined the 31st; and one of his old brother-officers having met him in Dublin, shortly after the exchange, asked him why he did not stay with his old friends?--“Oh, I’ll tell you then,” replied Morris. “You see I have a brother in the 32d, and I wanted to be near him in the wars, so I changed into the 31st, which you know is as close as possible to his regiment.” At this time they happened to be two thousand miles asunder. With all the apparent simplicity which Quill exhibited, he was as good a judge of politeness, and knew as well the difference between gentlemanlike familiarity and impertinent freedom, as any man in the army; which the following anecdote will in a great measure prove. He exchanged from the 31st, after having been a long time in the regiment, for no other purpose but to be attached to one about to go on actual service, in order that he might have a better chance of promotion. On joining, he had in his pocket letters from all those officers of his old corps who had happened to be acquainted with those of the one into which he exchanged; but he did not take the trouble to present a single one, lest they would suppose, as he said himself, that he wanted them to give him a dinner. In a few days after his joining, a very supercilious officer of the regiment, no less a personage than one of the majors, met him in the mess-room, _tête-à-tête_, and after a little conversation, put a very impertinent question to Morris. “Pray, Sir,” said he, “were not you a considerable time in the 31st?” “Oh, yes, I was, ’faith.” “It is a very good corps indeed--very good corps. I wonder you did not remain in it! Pray, what made you leave it, Sir?” Morris hesitated a little, and then replied: “Why, ’faith, I don’t like to mention exactly the reason, Major.” “God bless me! what was it?” “Why, you see, Major, I know you are a gentleman every bit of you; and if you will solemnly pledge me your honour that you will never mention it to any body, I’ll tell you the whole affair.” “’Pon my honour, I won’t. I pledge you my honour, I will not mention it.” “’Pon your _honour_,” said Morris emphatically. “’Pon my _honour_!” echoed the Major. “Well, that’s enough,” observed Morris; “I’ll tell you all about it. But shut the door, Major.”--The Major obeyed and hurried back to his chair.--“Well, then, you see, when I was in the 31st, I owed a little money here and there; and I was bothered with duns--Oh! the 31st was a fine regiment; it was there we had plenty of credit wherever we went: more is the pity for me; because I just--one day that I was short of a little money”--(_whispering_) “Well, Sir!” interrupted the Major. “I--a--just--a--put a few of the mess-table spoons and silver forks into my pocket;--that’s all.” “Indeed!” observed the Major, drawing back his chair.