166 A JACOBITE EXILE

“That will be a great comfort to you, Charlie. Jock
Armstrong, who has not picked up ten words of Swedish
since he joined, would have been worse than useless.”

“T have another piece of news, Harry, that I am in one
way very glad of, and in another sorry for. I had always
hoped that we should keep together, and that just as we
joined together, and were made lieutenants at the same
time, it would always be so.”

“You have got another step?” Harry exclaimed. “TI
am heartily glad of it. I thought very likely you might
get it. Indeed, I was surprised that you did not get it at
once after our fight with the Saxons. I am sure you de-
served it if ever a fellow did, considering what it saved
us all.”

“Of course it is for that,” Charlie replied, “ though I
think it is very absurd. Count Piper said the king would
have given it to me at once, only it would have taken me
over the heads of so many men older than myself; but he
considered that now I am going on a sort of staff work
away from the regiment I could be promoted, and he
thought too that the title of Captain would assist me in my
mission.”

“Of course it will,” Harry said warmly. “That is just
what I told you, you know; this business was not quite
to your liking, but it was a good long step towards making
your fortune. Don’t you think that I shall be jealous of
your going ahead, for Jam not in the least. I am sorry
you are going away, for I shall miss you terribly; but I am
quite content to be with the regiment, and to work my
way up gradually. As it is, I am senior lieutenant in the
regiment, and the first battle may give me my company;
though I don’t expect it, for I do not think my father
would wish the colonel to give me the step if it occurred,
for all the other lieutenants are older than we are, though
they are junior to us in the regiment, and I feel sure that