sex, with a degree of steadiness and
strength that might be denominated masculine. Her movement was graceful,
distinguished by a ready hand and free step; and it was impossible to
look upon her most familiar bearing, without being struck by the
indication which it gave of a self-possessed, fearless, and careering
temper, allied to a mind raised above the multitude by a consciousness
of intellectual force.

As Mildred advanced along the shaded walk, she was followed by a
fantastical little attendant, whom, in the toyish freak of a solitary
and luxurious life, she had trained to fill the station of a lady's
page. This was a diminutive negro boy, not above ten years of age, of a
delicate figure, and now gaudily bedecked in a vest of scarlet cloth, a
pair of loose white linen trowsers drawn at the ancle, and red slippers.
A ruffle fell over his neck, and full white sleeves were fastened with
silken cords at his wrists. A scarlet velvet cap gave a finish to the
apparel of this gorgeous little elf; and the dress, grotesque as it was,
was not badly set off by the saucy, familiar port of the conceited
menial. Whether he had been destined from his birth to this pampered
station,--or, accidentally, like many of the eastern monarchs, raised to
the purple,--he bore the romantic name of Endymion, and was fully as
much at the call of his patroness, and as fond of sleep, as him of Mount
Latmos. His business seemed to be at the present moment to acquit
himself of the responsible duty of holding an ivory-mounted riding-whip
in readiness for the service of his mistress.

When Mildred had crossed the lawn and arrived at the spot where Henry
now stood, she was saluted by her brother, with--

"Stand, my gentle sister, you and your monkey! Ah, Mildred, you are not
what you used to be; you have grown much too grave of late. Bear up,
dear sister: for, after all, what is it! Why we have been beaten, and we
must fight it over again, that's all. And as to the major, your
partiality magnifies his dangers. Hasn't he an arm?--yes; and hasn't he
a leg?--which, in war, I hold to be just as useful sometimes."

"There is a dreadful uncertainty, brother," replied Mildred. "I dream of
the worst."

"A fig for your dreams, sister Mildred! They have been all sorts of
ways, and that you know. Now, I have a waking dream, and that is, that
before you are twenty-four hours older you will hear of Major Butler."

"Would to heaven your dream may prove true!"