is friend. He then hastily swallowed a cup of tea, and
neglecting or refusing whatever else was offered, seemed to fall into a
fit of abstraction.

"You will take the gun to-day, General?" said his friend and host, but
had to repeat the question twice ere he received the abrupt answer, "No,
my lord; I am sorry I cannot have the opportunity of spending another
day with your lordship; my post horses are ordered, and will be here
directly."

All who were present showed surprise, and Lord Woodville immediately
replied "Post horses, my good friend! What can you possibly want with
them when you promised to stay with me quietly for at least a week?"

"I believe," said the General, obviously much embarrassed, "that I
might, in the pleasure of my first meeting with your lordship, have
said something about stopping here a few days; but I have since found it
altogether impossible."

"That is very extraordinary," answered the young nobleman. "You seemed
quite disengaged yesterday, and you cannot have had a summons to-day,
for our post has not come up from the town, and therefore you cannot
have received any letters."

General Browne, without giving any further explanation, muttered
something about indispensable business, and insisted on the absolute
necessity of his departure in a manner which silenced all opposition on
the part of his host, who saw that his resolution was taken, and forbore
all further importunity.

"At least, however," he said, "permit me, my dear Browne, since go you
will or must, to show you the view from the terrace, which the mist,
that is now rising, will soon display."

He threw open a sash-window, and stepped down upon the terrace as he
spoke. The General followed him mechanically, but seemed little to
attend to what his host was saying, as, looking across an extended
and rich prospect, he pointed out the different objects worthy of
observation. Thus they moved on till Lord Woodville had attained
his purpose of drawing his guest entirely apart from the rest of the
company, when, turning round upon him with an air of great solemnity, he
addressed him thus:--

"Richard Browne, my old and very dear friend, we are now alone. Let me
conjure you to answer me upon the word of a friend, and the honour of a
soldier. How did you in reality rest during last night?"

"Most wretchedly indeed, my lord," answered the General, in the same
tone of solemnity--"so miserably, that I would not run the risk of such