Only those few hours ago and people touched their hats to him and said, "Sir Richard;" now it was, "Well, my lad, want to 'list?" But he answered promptly-- "Yes; I want to enlist." "Hah!" ejaculated the sergeant, looking him over keenly, and grasping him by the arm as if he were a horse for sale. "How old are you?" "Turned seventeen." "Hah! Yes," said the sergeant, with a keen look; "old story, eh? Run away from home?" Richard's face turned scarlet. "That'll do, my lad; don't tell any crackers about it. See these chaps just brought in?" "Yes." "Well, there isn't one who doesn't stand two or three inches higher than you, and is as many more round the chest. Men are plentiful now of the right sort. Why, you'd look as thin as a rake in our clothes." "But I'm young, and I shall grow," said Richard, hurriedly. "Then go home and grow bigger and wiser, my lad; and if you still want to join the service, come and ask for me, Sergeant Price, 205th Fusiliers, and I'll talk to you." "Only he might be at the Cape," said another of the sergeants, smiling. "Or in India," said another; and there was a general laugh, which irritated the would-be recruit, and, feeling completely stunned by his reception, after taking it for granted that all he had to do was to hold out his hand when a shilling would be placed therein: after that he was a soldier. Giving a sharp, comprehensive glance round, he turned upon his heels and walked away towards the entrance, feeling ready to go back indignantly, for there was a roar of laughter apparently at his expense. "Am I such a contemptible-looking boy?" he thought; and then he felt better: for there was evidently someone following him, and the laughter was not at his expense, but at that of the man coming in his direction, for someone cried-- "Wait a bit, Lambert!" "Yes; steady there, Dan'l!" "Hi! you sir, don't you stand anything. He eats and drinks more than is good for him already." "I say, Brummy, take him to the King's Head, and we'll join you." "Dan'l and Lambert," thought Richard. "Why, it's the fat sergeant coming after me; they're laughing at him!" But he did not turn his head to see, only went steadily on towards the gate, with his pulses beating rapidly once more, for the hope rose now that this man had repented and was, perhaps, going to enlist him, after all. Telling himself that it would be better to seem careless and independent, he kept on to the gate, passed out, and heard the steps still behind him, but so close now that he noticed a rather thick breathing. Then he started as if thrilled by an electric touch, for there came in sharp tones-- "Hold hard, my lad!" and then, in military fashion, "Halt! Right about face!" Richard obeyed the order on the instant, and in such thorough soldierly style that the fat sergeant stared.