ever so many gentlemen volunteers with 'em,
who showed, as they ought to do, in the front. They say the Chevalier
of Tour d'Auvergne engaged in spite of the Duke of Aiguillon's orders.
Officers told us, who came off with a list of our prisoners and wounded
to General Bligh and Lord Howe. He is a lord now, since the news came of
his brother's death to home, George. He is a brave fellow, whether lord
or commoner."

"And his sister, who was to have married poor Sir John Armytage, think
what her state must be!" sighs Miss Hetty, who has grown of late so
sentimental.

"And his mother!" cries Mrs. Lambert. "Have you seen her ladyship's
address in the papers to the electors of Nottingham? 'Lord Howe being
now absent upon the publick service, and Lieutenant-Colonel Howe with
his regiment at Louisbourg, it rests upon me to beg the favour of your
votes and interests that Lieutenant-Colonel Howe may supply the place
of his late brother as your representative in Parliament.' Isn't this a
gallant woman?"

"A Laconic woman," says George.

"How can sons help being brave who have been nursed by such a mother as
that?" asks the General.

Our two young men looked at each other.

"If one of us were to fall in defence of his country, we have a mother
in Sparta who would think and write so too," says George.

"If Sparta is anywhere Virginia way, I reckon we have," remarks Mr.
Harry. "And to think that we should both of us have met the enemy, and
both of us been whipped by him, brother!" he adds pensively.

Hetty looks at him, and thinks of him only as he was the other day,
tottering through the water towards the boats, his comrade bleeding on
his shoulder, the enemy in pursuit, the shot flying round. And it was
she who drove him into the danger! Her words provoked him. He never
rebukes her now he is returned. Except when asked, he scarcely speaks
about his adventures at all. He is very grave and courteous with Hetty;
with the rest of the family especially frank and tender. But those
taunts of hers wounded him. "Little hand!" his looks and demeanour seem
to say, "thou shouldst not have been lifted against me! It is ill to
scorn any one, much more one who has been so devoted to you and all
yours. I may not be over quick of wit, but in as far as the heart goes,
I am the equal of the best, and the best of my heart your family has
had."

Harry's wrong, and his magnanimous endurance of it, served him to regain
in Miss Hetty's esteem t