THE STATION.
long service; a couch with broken springs; a Japanese cabinet, bought as a bargain when the old major was sold up; and an easy cane chair of colossal dimensions, the arms of which are prolonged and flattened, so as to accommodate the occupant with a resting-place for his feet. In one corner stands a couple of hog-spears, supple, tough, and duly weighted with lead and barbed with steel of proof; a regulation sword ; a buggy-whip ; a huntingcrop ; a double-barrelled rifle and a shot-gun —weapons which' the owner depreciates as archaic, expressing his intention of providing himself during his first visit to Europe, with “ By Jove, a complete “ outfit from Purdey, two double-barrelled breech“ loaders, and a breech-loading rifle.” On nails driven into the plaster hang a list of the men in the company to which the young fellow is attached ; a caricature of the paymaster; a framed photograph of the cricket eleven of the public school where he was educated ; and, if he be of a humorous turn, the last wigging, or letter of admonition and reproof, received from the colonel of his regiment.
In such a scene, and amidst such associations, does the English subaltern wear out the weary hours of the interminable Indian day; smoking; dozing; playing with his terrier; longing for the evening, or for a call from a brother-officer, with
