"You have mistaken an elder sister for the aunt," said Isabella, laying her fair hand on the mouth of the invalid; but you must be silent; your feelings are beginning to affect your frame." The entrance of Doctor Sitgreaves, who, in some alarm, noticed the increase of feverish symptoms in his patient, enforced this mandate; and the trooper withdrew to pay a visit of condolence to Roanoke, who had been an equal sufferer with himself in their last night's somerset. To his great joy, his man pronounced the steed to be equally convalescent with the master; and Lawton found that, by dint of rubbing the animal's limbs several hours without ceasing, he was enabled to place his feet in what he called systematic motion. Orders were accordingly given to be in readiness to prepare to rejoin the troop at the four corners, so soon as the captain had shared in the bounty of the approaching banquet,

In the mean time, Henry Wharton had entered the apartment of Wellmere, and, by his sympathetic feelings on account of

a defeat in which they had been alike unfortunate, succeeded greatly in restoring the colonel to his own good graces; he was consequently enabled to rise and prepare to meet a rival of whom he had spoken so lightly, and, as the result had proved, with so little reason. Wharton knew this misfortune, as it was termed by both, was owing to the other's rashness; but he forbore to speak of any thing except the unfortunate accident which had deprived the English of their leader, and their consequent defeat.

"In short, Wharton," said 'the colonel, putting one leg out of bed," it may "it be called a combination of untoward events; your own ungovernable horse prevented my orders from being carried to the major, in season to flank the rebels."

"Very true," replied the captain, kicking a slipper towards the bed; "had we succeeded in getting a few good fires upon them in flank, we should have sent these brave Virginians to the right about."

Ay! and that in double quick time,"

cried the colonel, with very considerable animation, making the other leg follow its companion;" then it was necessary to rout the guides, you know; and the movement gave them the best possible opportunity to charge."

"Yes," said the other, sending the second slipper after the first, and that Dunwoodie never overlooks an advantage." "I think if we had the thing to do over again," continued the colonel, raising himself on his feet, "we might alter the case very materially, though the chief thing the rebels have now to boast of is my capture; they were repulsed, you saw, in their attempt to drive us from the wood.”

"At least they would have been, had they made an attack," said the captain, throwing his clothes within reach of the colonel.

Ay! why that, you know, is the same thing," returned Wellmere, dressing himself; "to assume such an attitude as to intimidate your enemy is the chief art of war."

"Doubtless," said the captain, entering himself a little into the proud feelings of a soldier ; "then you may remember in one charge they were completely routed."

"True true," cried the colonel, with animation; "had I been there to have improved that advantage, we might have turned the table completely on the yankies;" in saying which he completed his toilette, and was prepared to make his appearance, fully restored to his own good opinion, and fairly persuaded that his capture was owing to casualties absolutely without the control of man.

The knowledge that Colonel Wellmere was to be a partaker in the feast in no degree diminished the preparations which were already making for that important event; and Sarah, after receiving the compliments of the gentleman, and making, with blushing cheeks, many kind inquiries after the state of his wounds, proceeded in person to lend her aid in embellishing what would now be of additional interest.

CHAPTER IL

I will stand to and feed,

Although my last; no matter, since I feel
The best is past :-Brother, my Lord the Duke,
Stand to, and do as we→"

Tempest.

THE savour of preparation, which had been noticed by Captain Lawton, began to increase vastly within the walls of the cottage. Certain sweet-smelling odours, that rose from the subterraneous territories of Caesar, gave to the trooper the most pleasing assurance, that his olfactory: nerves, which on such occasions were as acute as his eyes on others, had faithfully performed their duty; and, for the benefit of enjoying the passing sweets as they arose, the dragoon so placed himself at a window of the building, that not a vapour, charged with the spices of the east, could exhale on its passage to the clouds, with