his saddle, and receiving his trusty weapon from
the young comrade of his late gallant adventure, he rode forth with as
stout a heart as ever went with knight of chivalry to the field of
romantic renown.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

A GLANCE AT THE DOVE COTE.--THE COMPANIONSHIP OF BROTHER AND SISTER.

Our story once more brings us back to the Dove Cote. During the first
week that followed her interview with Arthur Butler under the Fawn's
Tower, Mildred was calm and thoughtful, and even melancholy: her usual
custom of exercise was foregone, and her time was passed chiefly in her
chamber. By degrees, however, her firm and resolute temper predominated
over the sadness of her fortunes, and she began to resume that
cheerfulness which circumstances can never long subdue in a strong and
disciplined mind. She had grown more than ever watchful of the public
events, and sought, with an intense avidity, to obtain information in
regard to the state of things in the south. She now felt herself closely
allied to the cause in which Arthur Butler had embarked, and therefore,
caught up the floating rumors of the day, in what regarded the progress
of the American arms in the southern expedition, with the interest of
one who had a large stake depending on the issue.

She had received several letters from Butler, which detailed the
progress of his journey from the Dove Cote to Gates's camp, and from
thence to Horse Shoe's cottage. They were all written in the confident
and even jocular tone of a light-hearted soldier who sought to amuse his
mistress; and they narrated such matters of personal history as were of
a character to still her fears for his safety. Their effect upon Mildred
was to warm up her enthusiasm, as well as to brighten her anticipations
of the future, and thus to increase the returning elasticity of her
spirits. Up to this period, therefore, she grew every day more buoyant
and playful in her temper, and brought herself to entertain a more
sanguine reckoning of the eventual determination of affairs. She was now
frequently on horseback, attended by her brother, with whom she scarcely
ever failed to make a visit to the good Mistress Dimock, where she
either found a letter from Butler, or heard some of the thousand tidings
which report was for ever busy in propagating or exaggerating in regard
to the movements of the army.

"I'll warrant you, Arthur is a man for the pen as well as for the spur
and broadsword, my pretty lady,