some time since by Peter Dealtry to wear
when employed in shooting snipes for the Squire, to whom he occasionally
performed the office of game-keeper; suspended round his wrist by a bit
of black ribbon, was his constable's baton; he shouldered his musket
gallantly, and he carried his person as erect as if the least deflexion
from its perpendicularity were to cost him his life. One may judge of
the revolution that had taken place in the village, when so peaceable a
man as Peter Dealtry was thus metamorphosed into a commander-in-chief.
The rest of the regiment hung sheepishly back; each trying to get as
near to the door, and as far from the ladies, as possible. But Peter
having made up his mind, that a hero should only look straight forward,
did not condescend to turn round, to perceive the irregularity of his
line. Secure in his own existence, he stood truculently forth, facing
the Squire, and prepared to receive his plaudits.

Madeline and Aram sat apart at one corner of the hearth, and Ellinor
leaned over the chair of the former; the mirth that she struggled to
suppress from being audible, mantling over her arch face and laughing
eyes; while the Squire, taking the pipe from his mouth, turned round
on his easy chair, and nodded complacently to the little corps, and the
great commander.

"We are all ready now, your honour," said Peter, in a voice that did not
seem to belong to his body, so big did it sound, "all hot, all eager."

"Why you yourself are a host, Peter," said Ellinor with affected
gravity; "your sight alone would frighten an army of robbers: who could
have thought you could assume so military an air? The Corporal himself
was never so upright!"

"I have practised my present attitude all the day, Miss," said Peter,
proudly, "and I believe I may now say as Mr. Sternhold says or sings, in
the twenty-sixth Psalm, verse twelfth.

'My foot is stayed for all assays,
It standeth well and right,
Wherefore to God--will I give praise
In all the people's sight!'

Jacobina, behave yourself, child. I don't think, your honour, that we
miss the Corporal so much as I fancied at first, for we all does very
well without him."

"Indeed you are a most worthy substitute, Peter; and now, Nell, just
reach me my hat and cloak; I will set you at your posts: you will have
an ugly night of it."

"Very indeed, your honour," cried all the army, speaking for the first
time.

"Silence--order--