And so she turned to old Major Jackson at her right, who had been
expounding a point of the battle of Vittoria to Lord Chelford; and she
led him again into action, and acquired during the next ten minutes a
great deal of curious lore about Spanish muleteers and French prisoners,
together with some particulars about the nature of picket duty, and 'that
scoundrel, Castanos.'




CHAPTER IV.

IN WHICH WE GO TO THE DRAWING-ROOM AND THE PARTY BREAKS UP.


Wylder was surprised, puzzled, and a good deal incensed--that saucy craft
had fired her shot so unexpectedly across his bows. He looked a little
flushed, and darted a stealthy glance across the table, but no one he
thought had observed the manoeuvre. He would have talked to ugly Mrs. W.
Wylder, his sister-in-law, at his left, but she was entertaining Lord
Chelford now. He had nothing for it but to perform _cavalier seul_ with
his slice of mutton--a sensual sort of isolation, while all the world was
chatting so agreeably and noisily around him. He would have liked, at
that moment, a walk upon the quarter-deck, with a good head-wind blowing,
and liberty to curse and swear a bit over the bulwark. Women are so full
of caprice and hypocrisy, and 'humbugging impudence!'

Wylder was rather surly after the ladies had floated away from the scene,
and he drank his liquor doggedly. It was his fancy, I suppose, to revive