she saw us; and Aunt
Lambert, you may be sure, was ready with her sympathy. While she
bestowed it on Lady Maria, I paid the best compliments I could invent to
the old lady. When the conversation between Aunt L. and the bride began
to flag, I turned to the latter, and between us we did our best to make
a dreary interview pleasant. Our talk was about you, about Wolfe, about
war; you must be engaged face to face with the Frenchmen by this time,
and God send my dearest brother safe and victorious out of the battle!
Be sure we follow your steps anxiously--we fancy you at Cape Breton.
We have plans of Quebec, and charts of the St. Lawrence. Shall I ever
forget your face of joy that day when you saw me return safe and sound
from the little combat with the little Frenchman? So will my Harry, I
know, return from his battle. I feel quite assured of it; elated somehow
with the prospect of your certain success and safety. And I have made
all here share my cheerfulness. We talk of the campaign as over, and
Captain Warrington's promotion as secure. Pray Heaven, all our hopes may
be fulfilled one day ere long.

"How strange it is that you who are the mettlesome fellow (you know you
are) should escape quarrels hitherto, and I, who am a peaceful youth,
wishing no harm to anybody, should have battles thrust upon me! What do
you think actually of my having had another affair upon my wicked hands,
and with whom, think you? With no less a personage than your old enemy,
our kinsman, Mr. Will.

"What or who set him to quarrel with me, I cannot think. Spencer
(who acted as second for me, for matters actually have gone this
length;--don't be frightened; it is all over, and nobody is a scratch
the worse) thinks some one set Will on me, but who, I say? His conduct
has been most singular; his behaviour quite unbearable. We have met
pretty frequently lately at the house of good Mr. Van den Bosch, whose
pretty granddaughter was consigned to both of us by our good mother. Oh,
dear mother! did you know that the little thing was to be such a
causa belli, and to cause swords to be drawn, and precious lives to
be menaced? But so it has been. To show his own spirit, I suppose, or
having some reasonable doubt about mine, whenever Will and I have met
at Mynheer's house--and he is for ever going there--he has shown such
downright rudeness to me, that I have required more than ordinary
patience to keep my temper. He has contradicted me once, twice, thrice