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Gil the Gunner; or, The Youngest Officer in the East, a novel by George Manville Fenn |
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Chapter 2 |
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_ CHAPTER TWO. I was horribly suspicious about that military tailor in Saint James's Street. Over and over again I felt that he must be laughing at me, as he passed his tape round my chest and waist. But he was a pattern of smooth politeness, and as serious as a judge, while I sought for little bits of encouragement, painfully conscious as I was about my physique. He was so quiet and confidential, and took such pains to suggest the various articles I should require, that I felt bound to place myself in his hands, and to a certain extent he won my confidence sufficiently to make me ask a _few_ questions, to set myself a little at my ease. "Don't often have any one so thin and young as I am to measure for a uniform, do you?" I said. He looked at me with astonishment--real or assumed. "Thin as you, sir! Oh, you are nothing to some gentlemen--I mean," he added hastily, "as to being slender. Why, some officers who come here are little better than schoolboys." "But I am thin," I said. "Slight, sir," he said reprovingly--"slight. I should hardly call you thin. You'd look a little thin in evening-dress, but in uniform only slight. You see, we are obliged to pad a little in the chest, and to square the shoulders a little, and, one way and another, sir, when we have finished you, you will be surprised." I was. But just then I only coughed, and felt glad that I was not the youngest and thinnest officer the tailor had fitted out. "Oh, by the way," I said as indifferently as I could, "what about swords?" I felt proud of my nonchalantly easy way of dealing so familiarly with the _arme blanche_, as the French call it, in the plural number. "Oh, we shall supply your sword, sir; everything, if you entrust us with your commands. There are some gentlemen who advise that you should not go to a military tailor, but to a sword-cutler; and, of course, every gentleman has a right to go where he pleases, but if you will trust me, sir, you shall have a proved blade, of which you will be proud." "Oh, of course I shall trust you," I said hurriedly. "But about size. I think I should like, er--a light, rather smaller-sized sword." "Oh no; excuse me, sir," said the tailor apologetically. "Speaking from experience, sir, no. There was Lieutenant Verney, sir, younger and lighter than you sir, and not so big-boned--Major Verney he is now, a regular customer--said just the same as you did, sir, and we gave way. Consequently he was greatly dissatisfied. He grew, but the sword did not, and he soon had to have another. Now, if I might advise, I should say have a full-size regulation weapon, well balanced with a good heavy hilt. You'll be surprised, big-boned as you are, sir, how soon you will put on muscle and spread out." Of course I gave way, being naturally proud of being considered capable of wielding a full-sized sword, and in due time, though not until I had fretted myself into a great state of excitement, the accoutrements were sent home. It was hard work to assume that indifference which I did not feel, and I'm afraid that I did not deceive anybody save myself. I knew when the things came, for one of the servants came and told me, and I said in a tone suggestive of the idea that I was in the habit of having uniforms sent home, "Have the things placed in my room." The servant stared at me, and I turned away, feeling furiously hot as I longed to run up and tear open the packages and tin boxes to gloat over their contents. But I taught myself to feel that I could not do that now--it would be too boyish, so I suffered tortures as I went out into the grounds to talk to some of our fellows, and try to keep my mind to what was being said. Then came relief in the shape of Morton, who hurried up to the group where I stood. "Hi! Gil Vincent," he cried excitedly. "What's the matter?" I said in what was intended to be a cool way, but decidedly was not. "What's the matter, indeed! They're taking your gorgeous array up into your room. Tin cases and swords, and goodness knows what. Come on!" "Come on?" I said coolly; "what do you mean?" "Hark at him!" cried Morton. "Here he is, as cool as a fish. Don't you want to tog out?" "No. What nonsense!" I said; but I can remember feeling excited as he spoke. "Get out! Don't be a humbug. You're red hot to get into them." "Absurd! Why, I shall be always wearing that sort of thing soon." "Gammon!" cried Morton. "Oh, I say, what a jolly impostor you are, Gil. Come on, lads, let's have him in, and make him paint himself up for our glorification." "Oh, if you all particularly wish it," I said, "I don't mind." There was a roar of laughter at this; and to hide my annoyance, I joined in, and was soon after spreading out jacket and coatee, striped trousers, belts, and slings, all of which, after being duly admired, were donned and exhibited in their proper places. "Talk about pomp and vanity!" cried Morton. "Don't be jealous," I replied, as I began to feel excited. "I'm not a bit, Gil; but you might own to being proud as a peacock of your togs. Come, you are--aren't you?" "I suppose so," I said, as I involuntarily glanced at myself in the glass; and then I felt hotter than ever, for I saw my fellow-pupils laughing, and this was the signal for me to hurry out of the stiff embroidered uniform as rapidly as I could. But that night, when I went up to bed! Well, I was very young then; and I suppose any boy of my age would have been just as proud of his new uniform, all suggestive as it was of sword and flashing steel, trampling horses, and spirit-stirring trumpet and band. My candle was a long time before it went out that night, but even then I tried to salve my conscience--to make myself believe that it was not all vanity, for I said that the things wanted trying on, and the buttons and buttonholes were stiff. But at last everything was neatly folded up again and put away, and I lay down to sleep and dream of my new career. Somehow I only saw one side of a soldier's life just then. Perhaps if I could have had the slightest idea of the horrors and dangers through which I should have to pass, I might have shrunk away appalled, and been glad to have taken to some more peaceful career. _ |
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