the day the
hearth-stone was first laid. She desarves to be spoken of as a
praiseworthy woman. And, moreover, I should say she has popped her house
down in a most legible situation, touching our day's march, by which I
mean it isn't one step too near a reasonable bed hour. I count it lucky,
major, on your account; and although it isn't for me to give advice in
woman affairs--for I know the creatures do try the grit and edge of a
man amazingly sometimes--yet, if I mought say what was running in my
head fit for a gentleman and an officer like you to do in such a
tribulation, it would be this: drop thinking and chawing over your
troubles, and take them with a light heart, as things that's not to be
mended by a solemncolly long-facedness. A good victual's meal and a fair
night's rest would make another man of you. That's my observation; and I
remember once to hear you say the same yourself, upon occasion of your
losing the baggage wagons last fall on the Beaufort convoy. You ha'n't
forgot it, major?"

"Thank you, thank you, sergeant. Your counsel is kindly offered and
wisely said, and I will follow it. But it is a little hard, fellow
soldier," added Butler, with something like an approach to jocularity,
"it's a little hard to have one's misfortunes cast in his teeth by a
comrade."

"I thought it would make you laugh, major!" replied Robinson, with a
good-natured solicitude, "for it wan't in the possibilities of a mortal
earthly man to save the baggage; and, I remember, you laughed then, as
well as the rest of us, when them pestifarious, filching sheep stealers
made off with our dinners: nobody ever blamed you for it."

"Ah, Galbraith, you are a good friend, and you shall say what you please
to me," said Butler, with a returning cheerfulness; "sorrow is a dull
companion to him who feeds it, and an impertinent one to everybody
beside. So, ride forward, and we will endeavor to console ourselves with
the good cheer of the widow. And, hark, Galbraith, this Mistress Dimock
is an especial friend of mine: pray you, let her see, by your
considerateness towards her, that you are aware of that--for my sake,
good Horse Shoe."

The two soldiers soon reached the inn, and, having dismounted, Butler
aroused the attention of the inmates by a few strokes upon the door with
his riding rod.

The reply to this summons was a shrill invitation, in a feminine voice,
to "walk in;" and no sooner had Butler thrown open the door and advanced
a