tried him, on my first essay of his qualities, by walking him gently through a quiet retired by-road, almost like an English lane. He answered admirably, and I, as it was the monsoon, allowed him, during some weeks, to repose idly in the stable. The Arab-dealer had left the place very soon after the purchase was concluded, and I thought no more of him until my syce brought me frequent notice, that if the animal encountered a tree, a bandy, a palankeen, or vehicle of any description, he not only shied, but actually plunged and reared, so that he could with difficulty be held down. I remembered the price I had paid for him, and was sufficiently sorrowful; moreover, I did not like the anticipation of Mrs. Maple's reproaches. Consequently, I was the more grateful for her forbearance when I discovered, to my surprise, that she said nothing about the matter.

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Captain Payne was a daring rider, and he had been greatly captivated by the exterior of the horse; and certainly a creature more finely limbed, or with a more beautiful head, never attracted the purchaser. Payne had intimated

to me his desire of trying his paces; but I refused, on the plea that the animal was not safe. Mrs. Maple ridiculed my timidity, and suggested that that might be a very hazardous experiment for me, which Captain Payne might venture with impunity. Payne was well-pleased with a compliment to that equestrian skill on which he piqued himself, and pressed for the loan of the horse. However, I was glad that he went away, and whether from forgetfulness, or that he changed his mind, he never sent to me for him.

"I recollect it was early in the morning in May, when I was sitting with my hookah in the outer verandah, enjoying the only cool moment that was to impart energy to endure the next twelve torrid hours, when my attention was excited by an appearance of great bustle in the street of the cantonment. Naturally anxious, as every resident in India is, to know what occurrence could occasion it, I called a serdar and sent him to inquire. He returned with an answer which I shall never forget. Being translated, it ran thus':

"Payne saïb rode out this morning on master's horse. That horse took too much fear at a carriage in the general's lines;Payne saïb fell off, then the horse kicked and ran away, and the syce fetched the doctor saïb, and they put Payne saïb in the palankeen, and then they took him home.'

"I trembled with horror;-I felt deadly sick, and a cold perspiration burst from every pore. I rose and went hastily to Mrs. Maple's apartment, and asked her if she had lent the horse to Captain Payne that morning?

“And what if I did?' was her reply in irate

accents.

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'Why, if you did, Mrs. Maple,' said I, for I waxed warm, and indeed was absolutely in a passion,—' if you did, the horse has thrown Payne, and he is badly hurt,—perhaps a fractured limb,—perhaps dead,-and that's what it is, if you did, Mrs. Maple,-and if he should die, you will, and ought, in your conscience, to know that you have killed him, Mrs. Maple !' -And I wiped my face in an agony.

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Lay down my pocket-handkerchief, Cap

tain Maple, Sir;-how dare you insult me, your lawful wife, with such vile insinuations? -Sir, I despise and trample on both them and you!-Did I tell the horse to throw Captain Payne;-did I ask Captain Payne to mount him? You told him enough of the brute's violence; and if his vanity led him-But it is idle to waste words on you. If he is dead, I am clear of the business, that's all,-and it is another step, and that's more,—and don't come here troubling me again, Sir !'

"Poor Payne did die; and night after night I dreamed of Mrs. Maple's forcing him upon the horse, all unsaddled and unbridled; and methought I saw her irritating the animal, by the aid of sharp steel, to plunge and rear, until the unfortunate horseman was thrown, and I saw his pallid face, and mangled body. And then I awoke in horror; and frequently I found my wife in happy slumber, wrapt in blissful dreams, and I could hear gliding from her lips in tones that were complacent even in sleep, Major Maple,-Major Maple!"

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My misfortunes seemed to have reached

their climax. I fancied, whenever poor Payne's death was discussed, that every eye turned with suspicion on me. Many a gibe and joke occurred on the occasion from the youngsters, such as- Lucky horse that of yours, Maple!' -Well, Maple, that horse of yours will take you to the winning-post one of these days!'— 'I say, Maple, what is the price of your horse?-Promotion in our corps is at a dead stand, and our major is looking out for a horse! Yours is just the animal to suit us!' -and many such like innuendoes, which pained me exceedingly, from a certain unpleasant consciousness, of which I could not, for the life of me, divest myself.

"As to Mrs. Maple, since this event occurred, she has given invitations to Barnes, the survivor, more frequently than ever. Often when I have recommended claret to him in preference to brandy, have I suffered martyrdom from the sharp application of her foot under the table to mine, which unluckily is afflicted with three or four bad corns !-Nay, to my surprise, she purchased a four dozen case of