elf in the rich, full tones of her voice, "that Major
Butler knows nothing of my coming hither. I speak not in his name, nor
make any pledge for him. If he has escaped, it has only been from the
common instinct which teaches a bird to fly abroad when it finds the
door of his cage left open by the negligence of his keepers. I knew it
not--nor, alas! have I heard aught of his captivity, but as I have
already told your lordship. He is an honorable soldier, rich in all the
virtues that may commend a man: I would your lordship knew him better
and in more peaceful times."

"Well, it is but a peevish and silly boy," said Cornwallis, "who whines
when his pie is stolen. The war has many reckonings to settle, and we
contrive to make one day's profit pay another's loss. The account for
the present is balanced; and so, Miss Lindsay, without discourtesy, I
may leave you, with a fair wish for a happy and prosperous journey back
to your father's roof. To the good gentleman himself, I desire to be
well remembered. And to show you that this briery path of war has not
quite torn away all the habiliments of gentleness from us, I think it
dutiful to tell you that, as I have become the confidant of a precious
love-tale, wherein I can guess some secret passage of mystery is laid
which should not be divulged, I promise you to keep it faithfully
between ourselves. And when I reach the Dove Cote, which, God willing,
under the banners of St. George, I do propose within three months to do,
we may renew our confidence, and you shall have my advice touching the
management of this dainty and delicate affair. And now, God speed you
with a fair ride, and good spirits to back it!"

"I am much beholden to your lordship's generosity," said Mildred, as
Cornwallis rose with a sportive gallantry and betook himself to his
horse.

"Come hither, Mr. Henry," he said after he had mounted, "farewell, my
young cavalier. You will find a few files of men to conduct you and your
party beyond our posts: and here, take this," he added, as now on
horseback, he scrawled off a few lines with a pencil, upon a leaf of his
pocket-book, which he delivered to the youth, "there is a passport which
shall carry you safe against all intrusion from my people. Adieu!"

With this last speech the commander-in-chief put spurs to his horse, and
galloped to the plain, to review his troops and commence the march by
which he hoped to make good his boast of reaching the Dove Cote.

How