ities, and the possession of a place and domain so beautiful.

"Nay, you have seen nothing of it as yet," said Lord Woodville, "and I
trust you do not mean to leave us till you are better acquainted with
it. It is true, I confess, that my present party is pretty large, and
the old house, like other places of the kind, does not possess so much
accommodation as the extent of the outward walls appears to promise.
But we can give you a comfortable old-fashioned room, and I venture
to suppose that your campaigns have taught you to be glad of worse
quarters."

The General shrugged his shoulders, and laughed. "I presume," he said,
"the worst apartment in your chateau is considerably superior to the old
tobacco-cask in which I was fain to take up my night's lodging when I
was in the Bush, as the Virginians call it, with the light corps. There
I lay, like Diogenes himself, so delighted with my covering from the
elements, that I made a vain attempt to have it rolled on to my next
quarters; but my commander for the time would give way to no such
luxurious provision, and I took farewell of my beloved cask with tears
in my eyes."

"Well, then, since you do not fear your quarters," said Lord Woodville,
"you will stay with me a week at least. Of guns, dogs, fishing-rods,
flies, and means of sport by sea and land, we have enough and to
spare--you cannot pitch on an amusement but we will find the means of
pursuing it. But if you prefer the gun and pointers, I will go with you
myself, and see whether you have mended your shooting since you have
been amongst the Indians of the back settlements."

The General gladly accepted his friendly host's proposal in all its
points. After a morning of manly exercise, the company met at dinner,
where it was the delight of Lord Woodville to conduce to the display of
the high properties of his recovered friend, so as to recommend him to
his guests, most of whom were persons of distinction. He led General
Browne to speak of the scenes he had witnessed; and as every word marked
alike the brave officer and the sensible man, who retained possession
of his cool judgment under the most imminent dangers, the company looked
upon the soldier with general respect, as on one who had proved himself
possessed of an uncommon portion of personal courage--that attribute of
all others of which everybody desires to be thought possessed.

The day at Woodville Castle ended as usual in such mansions. The
hospitality st