"
The commissary not having, like the colonel, nothing to do, now took
his leave; a little surprised, however, seeing how glad Bradshawe had
been to meet with him, at his not inviting him to dine that day with
the mess, as he had often done before.
It was observed at the mess table of the ---- regiment, that the
colonel was in particularly fine spirits to-day. Always companionable,
he this day enjoyed his dinner, his glass, and his jokes, and other
men's jokes, with peculiar _gusto_. At length, however, the table grew
thin. Duty, pleasure, satiety, and restlessness, took off man after
man, particularly of the younger officers, and the colonel was left at
last to the support of three or four of his special confidants, the
stanchest sitters in the regiment.
Gathering them around him, he called for a fresh decanter, filled
their glasses, and ordered the last servant out of the room. After
slowly draining his glass, and dwelling awhile on the rich flavor of
the wine, he remarked: "We certainly owe a debt of gratitude to
Shortridge, for the good faith in which he executes these little
commissions. They are, we should remember, quite beside his official
duties.
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