His pleasant even temper, and his handsome face, had won every one who knew him, and, though he never talked much, yet, when he was gone, we all missed his merry laugh, after one of Desborough's good stories.

Charley Hawker went off with him too, and spent a few hours with Ellen Mayford, much to his satisfaction, but came in again at night, as his mother had prayed of him not to leave the Major's till he had seen her again.
That night the Major proposed punch, and, after Mrs.Buckley had gone to bed, Sam sang a song, and Desborough told a story, about a gamekeeper of his uncle's, whom the old gentleman desired to start in an independent way of business.

So he built him a new house, and gave him a keg of whisky, to start in the spirit-selling line.

"But the first night," said Desborough, "the villain finished the whisky himself, broke the keg, and burnt the house down; so my uncle had to take him back into service again, after all." And after this came other stories equally preposterous, and we went rather late to bed.
And the next morning, too, I am afraid, we were rather late for breakfast.

Just as we were sitting down, in came Captain Brentwood.
"Hallo," said the Major; "what brings you back so soon, old friend.
Nothing the matter I hope ?" "Nothing but business," he replied.