about ten o’clock
Such , in fact , were the dons of the present dinner . We had a commissary-general , an inspecting brigade-major of something , a physician to the forces , the adjutant himself , and Major Dalrymple ; the _ hoi polloi _ consisting of the raw ensign , a newly-fledged cornet -LRB- Mr. Sparks -RRB- , and myself . The commissary told some very pointless stories about his own department ; the doctor read a dissertation upon Walcheren fever ; the adjutant got very stupidly tipsy ; and Major Dalrymple succeeded in engaging the three juniors of the party to tea , having previously pledged us to purchase nothing whatever of outfit without his advice , he well knowing -LRB- which he did -RRB- how young fellows like us were cheated , and resolving to be a father to us -LRB- which he certainly tried to be -RRB- . As we rose from the table , about ten o'clock , I felt how soon a few such dinners would succeed in disenchanting me of all my military illusions ; for , young as I was , I saw that the commissary was a vulgar bore , the doctor a humbug , the adjutant a sot , and the major himself I greatly suspected to be an old rogue . `` You are coming with us , Sparks ? '' said Major Dalrymple , as he took me by one arm and the ensign by the other . `` We are going to have a little tea with the ladies ; not five minutes ' walk . ''