and I should be
happy to be better acquainted with you. A little too stiff, perhaps: but
you will learn better as you grow older. You should thank me for making
holiday in your school to-day."

Here Robinson interposed before Henry could make the saucy reply he
meditated, by announcing that the company would find some cool water and
a supply of spirits in the adjoining room. "Besides," he added, "I have
told the house-folks to make ready somewhat in the way of victuals, as I
judged you mought be a little hungry."

"Not badly thought of, Mr. Ajax!" said one of the officers, as the party
now crowded into the room.

"Don't forget Stephen Foster," whispered Robinson, by way of admonition
in regard to his assumed character, as he passed by the chair where
Henry was sitting. "And keep a civil tongue in your head."

Henry nodded compliance, and then, with Alfred, left the hall, whilst
the sergeant repaired to the refreshment room to offer his officious
attentions to the quests.

Meanwhile, the ladies still kept to their chamber, ever and anon gazing
out at the window with a solicitous and unhappy interest, and
occasionally receiving the highly-colored reports of the servants, who,
as often as any new subject of wonder or fear occurred to them, were
plying backwards and forwards between the apartment and the head of the
stair-case.

After an interval of half an hour, during which the uncouth din of
laughter, of loud oaths, and of the careless swaggering of the party
below, rose with a harsh note to the ear of the hostess and her
companion, these sounds abruptly ceased, and it was evident that the
visitors had quitted the house. It was with an emotion of delight that
Mrs. Markham, from the window, beheld Colonel Tarleton and his comrades
galloping towards the main body of his troops that awaited him near the
barn; but, on repairing to the hall, this sudden gleam of satisfaction
was as suddenly clouded, when the matron perceived a sentinel posted at
the front door. As soon as she came within speech of this functionary,
he threw up his hand to his brow, as he said: "The colonel commanded me
to make his compliments to the ladies, and asks the honor of their
company at dinner."

"Colonel Tarleton forgets himself," said Mrs. Markham, with a stately
reserve that showed she had now dismissed her fears; "a brave soldier
would hardly think it a triumph to insult unprotected females."

"He is here to speak for himself, madam," r