From Household Words. niary difficulty. Colonel Role himself had the misfortune to have a very bad boy, and FORTY years ago, there went out to India, he, therefore, sympathised deeply with the in the good ship Globe, Ensign the Honor-worthy nobleman, and resolved to do all able Francis Gay, a younger son of the Right in his power to reform the Honorable Honorable the Earl of Millflower. The Francis. ensign was in his nineteenth year, and was proceeding to join his regiment, which was stationed at Chinsurah. But, by degrees the Honorable Francis fell off; and, ere long, so far from having a friend in the regiment, there was no one who would speak to him. Even the colonel was compelled to forbid him his house. Many, very many acts, unbecoming the character of an officer and a gentleman, had been looked over by his seniors; but it was resolved that, on the very next occasion of his transgressing, the honorable ensign should be brought to a court-martial and dismissed the service. This resolve was communicated to the ensign by the colonel, who had become tired of lecturing him. After a passage of four months, the Globe arrived at Calcutta, and the Honorable Francis Gay proceeded to Chinsurah and Lord Millflower, in his heart, hoped that joined. For several weeks he conducted himhis son would never return; he was so great self with (for him) wonderful propriety. It a disgrace to his family. There was no vice is true that he drank and played at billiards with which this youth was unfamiliar. He and cards, and sometimes an oath would had been expelled from no fewer than seven escape his lips, but he indulged in no exschools. In two instances his offence was cesses. The officers of the regiment, indeed, theft. His conduct had so preyed upon the thought the ensign a great acquisition, for mind of Lady Millflower that she lost her he was not only a very pleasant but an enreason. At seventeen, he committed several tertaining companion. forgeries of his eldest brother's, Lord Larkspeare's name: and he took a similar liberty with the name of his father's steward. But these offences were hushed up. He was also guilty of a deed of violence, for which his life would have been forfeited had the case been tried, instead of compromised; for, in those days, such a deed of violence was a capital offence. His family were in constant fear lest he should be transported as a felon, or hanged at Newgate. It was, therefore, some satisfaction to them when the Honorable Francis consented to hold a commission and join his regiment in India. Lord Millflower's other sons, four in number, were all steady, well-conducted, and rather dull beings, while Francis was remarkably gifted, as well as remarkably vicious. He had both talent and genius, humor and wit; and, much as he had neglected his education, he was well read and well informed for his time of life. In personal appearance, also, the reprobate had the advantage over his brethren. None of them were even goodlooking except Francis; who was really very handsome; well proportioned, and tall. His manners, also, always frank, were, when he pleased, dignified and courteous, and his bearing peculiarly graceful. What he wanted was feeling, to regulate his passions. Of feeling, he was in his youth, wholly destitute. Lord Millflower had taken the precaution of writing to the colonel of the regiment his son was about to join, and of at the same time enclosing a sum of money for the purpose of freeing Francis from any pecu "The next time you are intoxicated on the parade ground, or the next time you use bad language in the mess-room, or the next time you publicly insult a brother officer, provoking him to quarrel with you, you will forfeit your commission." Being the son of an earl, he was entitled - many colonels think-to every possible chance of redemption. Had he been the son of a commoner, he would, most probably, have been courtmarshalled and cashiered for the very first offence. "Thank you, sir," replied the ensign, with a low bow; "I will be more cautious in future.” He kept his word. From this time he did his duty extremely well; and, to all outward appearance, was a reformed character. The officers, observing this, generously made advances, with a view to resuming their former relations with him. But the Honorable Francis repulsed their advances. The whole regiment had thought proper to cut *him; and he now thought proper to cut the whole regiment. Several months passed, and during that period the ensign applied himself to Hindoostanee and Persian. He encouraged the natives to come to his bungalow, to talk with him, and by night and by day pursued his studies. The result was, that he soon conversed with perfect ease and accuracy. He now began to live like a native--a Mahommedan; and, except when he had to attend to his regimental duties, he wore the native costume, and abstained from drink entirely. With truth, he might have said with Conrad, "The grape's gay juice my bosom never cheers; I'm more than Moslem when the cup appears." His food was rice, milk, vegetables, and fruit; the bed upon which he slept was hard and mean; such as the natives use. The whole of his European furniture he sold by auction. His desire the desire of a doubtfully reformed reprobate to convert to Christianity a young Mahommedan girl, astonished all those who became acquainted with this desire. The girl was a daughter of a watercarrier (Bheestie). She was not like the natives of India, but more like those of Africa. She was coal-black, and had thick lips and wavy hair. She was short for her age- fourteen years—but thick set, with powerful limbs. The girl's father told the servants belonging to other officers of the regiment, and the curious whim of Gay's became a topic of conversation. Jehan, the bheestie's daughter, was a virtuous girl, and Francis Gay had never approached her with a view to undermining her virtue. It was no easy matter to persuade her to change her religion; but, strange to say, he at length succeeded, and Noor Jehan was baptized as Ellen by a missionary who journeyed to Chinsurah for the purpose of performing the ceremony. The sanity or otherwise of the ensign was now very generally discussed in the regiment, and the prevalent opinion was, that he was a lunatic. But, the good colonel was a little angry at the surmise. 66 Surely," he said, "you do not accuse a man of being a maniac because he has converted an infidel." chief station in the upper Provinces of India. Five thousand troops were quartered there. A regiment of dragoons, a regiment of native cavalry, a regiment of British infantry, and two of native infantry. Besides horse and foot there were companies of artillery, and sappers and miners. Very shortly after the regiment was settled in Cawnpore, the Honorable Francis Gay paid a visit to the chaplain, and intimated a desire to be married. The chaplain, of course, expressed that he should be most happy, and there and then a day and hour was appointed for the performance of the rite; but, when the Reverend gentleman came to hear who was to be the honorable ensign's bride-the black daughter of a native water-carrier- he could not help remarking: "I am sorry, Mr. Gay, that I cannot, with sincerity, offer you my congratulations." To which the ensign responded: 66 'My good sir, I did not ask them." And retired with a bow. The chaplain drove to the house of Colonel Role, and told him of the interview which had just taken place between himself and ensign the Honorable Francis Gay. The colonel called upon the young man, and entreated him to reflect. "I have reflected, sir," was the ensign's reply. The colonel then went to the general; and the general sent for Mr. Gay to attend at his bungalow. Mr. Gay obeyed the summons, and listened with attention and much calmness to a long and violent speech. When it was ended, however, Mr. Gay, with extreme courtesy, and in the quietest of tones, spoke thus: "General, you had a right to command my attendance here upon any military matter, but not upon any civil matter. However, I waive that, because I believe your intention to be a good one. You, general, have arrived at the years of discretion—perhaps at something beyond those years. You have, at all events, arrived at a time of life when the tumultuous passion of youth can no longer be pleaded in extenuation of certain follies. Now tell me, general, which of us, think you, sins the most, and sets the worst example to the men, European and native, in this station? I, who wish to marry this good Christian girl - or you, who have in your Mr. Gay then made mention of two very discreditable members of the The regiment was ordered to march to Cawnpore; whither Ellen and her father house also proceeded. Cawnpore was then the general's establishment. "This is a ques- | Gay and the pay-sergeant of the company tion which I shall put to the commander-in- he belonged to, being the god-fathers, and chief, if you abide by your threat to report me to his excellency." Ellen the god-mother. The names given to the infant were Ernest, Augustus, George, That night, the general and Colonel Role Francis, Frederick; such being the names, held a consultation. The colonel still doubted respectively of Lord Millflower's sons. Ernthe ensign's insanity. It had become a fixed est was the eldest, Augustus the second, idea in the regiment that Gay was insane. George the third, Francis the fourth, and The general caught at this, and a committee Frederick the fifth and youngest. Not long of doctors was appointed to examine the after the birth of his son, Ensign Gay obensign. They reborted that ensign the Hon-tained his promotion to the rank of lieutenorable Francis Gay was not only of sound ant, and received, of course, an increase of mind, but one of the most intellectual young pay. men in the station; and that he had ex- Fever became prevalent, and cholera. plained to their entire satisfaction certain Several of the captains and senior lieutenants conversations which he had frequently held fell victims; and in less than three years with himself in Chinsurah, at the mess-table. lieutenant Gay got his company (the regiThe wedding day had been put off, in con-ment was now at Meerut), and retired from sequence of these proceedings, but the parties the army by the sale of his captain's commisnow met in the church, which was crowded sion. It was supposed that he was worth a with officers, including near the entire med-great deal of money —a lac of rupees (ten ical staff, who were curious to witness the thousand pounds) at the very least. Whither spectacle. There stood the tall and hand- he went, no one knew, and no one cared. some English aristocrat, and beside him his One of the servants whom he discharged coal-black bride, dressed in garments of red previous to leaving the station of Meerutsilk trimmed with yellow and gold tinsel. said he believed that his master had gone The ensign acted as the interpreter, and ex- either to Affghanistan or to Lahore. plained to Ellen in Hindoostanee the vows she was required to take. This made the ceremony a very long one. When it was concluded, the bride got into her palanquin and was carried home. The bridegroom mounted his pony, and rode by her side. Let us now return to Europe. A few years after Captain Gay had sold out of the army, his eldest brother, Lord Larkspeare was killed while grouse shooting, by the accidental discharge of his gun; his second brother, Augustus, a captain in the army, Ellen now the Honorable Mrs. Gay-was lost in a vessel which was bringing him was a girl of great natural ability, of an excellent disposition and was blessed with an excellent temper. She had, moreover, a very sweet voice. After her marriage she was never seen by any European in Cawnpore, except her husband. It was believed that the ensign saved more than two-thirds of his pay, which Ellen, who had an excellent idea of business, used to lend out in small sums to people in the bazaar at the rate of fifty per sent. per mensem. If she lent a rupee (two shillings), she would get back at the end of the month, a rupee and eight annas (three shillings) by way of interest. A year passed away, and a son and heir was born to the Honorable Francis Gay. The child had light blue eyes exactly like those of his father, but his complexion was quite as black as his mother's. When the child was three months old, it was brought to the church, and publicly christened. Mr. home from Canada; his third brother, George, died of small pox three days after he had taken his father's second title. Of his son Francis' marriage, Lord Millflower had been informed, and also of the birth of the black child, the Honorable Ernest Augustus George Francis Frederick Gay. Colonel Role had deemed it his duty not to withhold these facts, albeit they were disagreeable to communicate to the noble earl. Lord Millflower begged of Colonel Role to institute an inquiry into the fate of his Francis, and the colonel did so, but without success. No clue to his whereabout could be discovered, nor could any one say what had become of him. Under these circumstances it was taken for granted that he was dead. Another five years passed away, and the Earl of Millflower departed this life. He was, of course, succeeded in his titles and estates by his son Frederick. Now, let us return to Francis. He became | rajah, however, had already provided himself with these matters, and therefore confined his purchases to a large cat's-eye ring, for which he paid Mustapha fifty gold mohurs (eighty pounds). On his way back to Delhi, at a place called Kunda Ka Serai, a band of robbers attacked the jewelmerchant. They hacked him to pieces with their swords; but, they spared his wife and the boy. The whole of their treasures were stolen, even the rings from Ellen's ears and fingers, and the gold bangles which Chandee wore upon his arms, a dealer in precious stones, and travelled over the whole of India, under the name of Mustapha Khan, visiting the various native courts. Every tour that he made, occupied him three years. Constantly moving about in the sun had tanned his once fair face; and, neither from his appearance, for he was dressed as a native, nor from his speech, could the natives themselves detect that he was an European. He gave out that his birthplace was Nepaul, where the natives are sometimes born with blue eyes. He bought and sold, and was apparently very happy in his occupation. His wife and son invariably accompanied him in his travels. He had never written to his family since his arrival in India, and had not received letters from any member thereof. India he loved, England he detested, and would not have taken up his father's title if it had been a dukedom. He never approached the abode of an European, and never saw a newspaper. He was not likely, therefore, to hear of the changes that had taken place at home. In the bazaar at Delhi, Captain Gay had a small house, in which were deposited his effects, a few boxes filled with clothes, books, &c., his sword, and the uniform he used formerly to wear. These were under the care of a manservant - a sweeper. The bulk of his worldly wealth he invariably carried about his person, as many natives of India do. Ernest Gay was now twelve years of age. He was usually called by his parents Chandee, a word signifying silver. Chandee was clever and cunning, and had a wonderful talent for calculating numbers. In less than a minute, by counting on his fingers, he would tell you the interest due on such sums as three rupees, five annas, and seven pic, for twenty-one days, at forty-one threefourth per cent. English he had never heard spoken; and as he had never been taught that language, he did not understand a single word of it. Nor could he read or write Hindoostanee; although he spoke it in all its purity and elegance. There was about to take place, a marriage in the family of the Rajah of Pulbecala. Mustapha Khan (Francis Gay) journeyed from Delhi to the rajah's court, to exhibit his jewels. He had diamonds, rubies, and emeralds of great price, and some of these he hoped to dispose of to advantage. The When her senses were restored to her, Ellen, with the assistance of her son, dug a grave in the sand, and buried her butchered husband. The bearers who carried the palankeens ran away as soon as the robbers attacked the party, and were no more seen. Most probably they had some small share of the booty, the value of which the Sirdar estimated at four lacs of rupees (forty thousand pounds). Whatever had been Francis Gay's vices when a youth- and they were great enough in all conscience he had been a kind and affectionate husband to Ellen, and she most bitterly deplored his loss; violent was the grief of Chandee, who was devotedly fond of his father. They heaped stones over the grave of the dead man, to mark the spot where he was laid, and, after their own fashion, offered up prayers for the repose of his soul. The murder having been committed within the dominions of an independent prince, Ellen knew that her wrongs were not likely to be redressed if she complained; and that the British Government would not interfere, unless she made known that her husband was an Englishman. This, she felt would be contrary to the wishes of the dead. Hopeless and helpless, she and her son made the best of their way to Delhi, where, having collected a few debts that were due to them, they established a small shop for the sale of native sweet-meats. They carried on this business for three or four years, when Chandee grew weary of it, and set up in the world as a box-waller, or pedler. His box contained pens, ink, and paper, needles, pins, knives, scissors, soap, eau de cologne, toothbrushes, matches, and so forth. His customers were the European officers, who gave him the name of Black and Blue, from the color of his eyes and skin. A box-waller is pointed superintending surgeon of the Meerut division. He had a son at Delhi, a lieutenant in the foot artillery, and occasionally went over (the distance is only forty miles from Meerut) to pay him a visit. On one of these occasions, Black and Blue, who had been sent for, made his appearance with his box, sat down on the carpet cross-legged, and opened out his treasures. There were several young officers in the bungalow, chums of the lieutenant; and, while the bargaining was going on, they began to teaze Black and Blue. One removed his turban with the point of a stick; another, sprinkled him always a great cheat as great a rascal as was Autolycus himself; Black and Blue, if the truth must be told, was not an exception to the rule or race. But, no one could grudge him his profits when the cuffs and kicks which were playfully administered to him by the young lieutenants and ensigns are taken into consideration. Black and Blue always took the rough usage of his customers in excellent part; and would generally make some such appeal as this (he had picked up a little English by this time): "Ah, well! I know! You rich white gentlemans-I poor black devil. I pray all day all night that ensign be made leeft'nunt; leeft'nunt, with his eau de cologne; a third touched the capitaine; capitaine, capitaine-meejor; mee- tip of his great toe (he had left his shoes, jor, kunnull; kunnull, meejor-jinneral; and out of respect, in the verandah) with the then God bless your father and mother, lighted end of a cheroot. Black and Blue and brother and sister; and then, for all howled with pain, whereupon the two roared that pray, I get so much kick and so many with laughter. The doctor, who was reading bad words. God make us all-black and a paper, begged of the young men to desist, white; all equal right up above. You want and, somewhat angrily, expostulated with blacking? Here you are. Very good black- his son for treating a native so cruelly; for ing quite genuine; only one rupee a he was touched with poor Black and Blue's bottle. I suppose you not got ready money? appeal: "God make us all. When fire Very well, I wait till pay-day come. I very burns black man, black man feels as much poor man. You my master. Khuda Lord pain as white man. In hell, you rich genKuren." The meaning of this expression, tlemans sing out just as much as poor boxwith which most natives wind up a speech waller." to an European, signifies, May God make you a lord! When Black and Blue was no more than five years old, he was playing one morning in his father's compound (enclosure- the land around a bungalow), when a pariah dog rushed in and mangled him very severely. The dog was rabid. Captain Gay called in the doctor of a native cavalry regiment, who lived in the next bungalow, and who cauterized the wounds. The child was bitten on the arms, legs, and chest, and was under the doctor's treatment for upwards of five weeks. On several occasions when he visited his patient, the doctor saw and conversed with Ellen, who was naturally very anxious touching the child's safety. This doctor was one of the number who witnessed the marriage of Ensign Gay, at Cawnpore, and was also present when his offspring was christened. "Black and Blue is used to it, governor," said the lieutenant. "Stuff, Robert!" said the doctor, "I address myself to you, and not to these gentlemen, when I say that I have no patience with such flippant cruelty." 66 Sahib," said Black and Blue, looking up at the doctor, "you are very good gentlemans very kind man, and very handsome. May God make you a lord; may your throne be perpetual, and may your end be peace; but do not be angry with these gentlemen. They play tricks with Black and Blue; but they are no enemies. If enemies, what for send to buy Black and Blue's property? Sir, you greatly oblige Black and Blue if you smile once more on these gentlemans. Sir, do you want any violent (violate) powder, or one small patent corkiscrew (corkscrew). All men born equal; God's rain wet black Shortly after the recovery of the little boy, man and white man all the same. Devil's the doctor had been appointed a presidency fire burn, too, both the same." Here he surgeon, and had charge of one of the hos- laughed at the lieutenant. "Take one pitals in Calcutta, where he remained for packet of violent-powder. Every one rupee upwards of twenty years. He was then ap- a packet. Well, then, take two for one, |