sedgy surface I have often ploughed with adventurous punt, while shooting ducks and widgeons. At Peterborough we enjoyed all the amusements of that pretty little city, and danced and flirted with its lovely fair ones; while, within one mile of our barracks lay the village of Stilton, world-renowned for its cheeses; though none of that excellent edible is therein manufactured, being entirely the produce of the neighbouring county of Leicester. Stilton still occupies a verdant spot in my memory's waste, as there for the first time I fell seriously, deeply, and irrevocably in love. But this important epoch of my checkered life is worthy of another chapter.

CHAPTER VII.

THE FRENCH PRISONER.

THIS world, after all, is a mere phantasmagoria; or, as Lord Denman said of something else, “a mockery, a delusion, and a snare." When you fancy you are standing upon firm ground, and have all your earthly wishes within your grasp, the quicksand upon which you build your "airy nothings slides from under your feet, and you are engulfed in a maelstrom of blighted hopes, ardent longings, and anticipated joys.

وو

When or how it was that I first became acquainted with Harriet Sibley I now forget, but she soon became the ruling star of my destiny. She was serious, romantic, and of a high heroic cast of thought; being thus, as it were, a counterpart of myself. Her beauty was not brilliant, but her features were pleasing and expressive, and her figure symmetry itself. Her sister Jane, on the contrary, was very handsome, a pure blonde, and gay and lively as the lark while it soars aloft and "at heaven's gate sings" amidst ethereal sunshine.

These two fair sisters used frequently to walk up to Norman Cross, which was situated on a considerable elevation above the village of Stilton, where they dwelt with their widowed mother; and thus I had opportunities enough to advance my suit, which I did with all the ardour of a boy of sixteen, but without any of the dexterity that most speedily wins the favour of the fair." I was, however, the chosen beau and preux chevalier of la belle Harriette, as she was denominated by the French prisoners; and though many of my brother officers tried to cut me out, by all those means which are proverbially fair in love and war, she still manifested a decided preference for me, which was repaid on my part by the most delicate attentions and devoted attachment; but I never once ventured to ask either her or myself how it was all to terminate.

I remarked that in their progress with other company through the avenues of the prison, these dear sisters generally stopped for some time at one particular stall; for the prisoners were permitted to fix up narrow boards, or counters, on the outside of their palings, upon

which they exposed their toys of bones and straw for sale. This I at first imagined was for the purpose of making purchases; but I soon found there was something else on the tapis, and that a certain young Frenchman always gave them the rendezvous at that identical spot, though apparently, poor fellow, he had nothing either to buy or sell. He was a handsome, soldier-like fellow, with a very threadbare frock coat, a smart moustache, and a gold-laced forage cap, stuck with a jaunty air on the side of his head. He spoke English with fluency, and was evidently altogether a person of superior rank to those around him. In fact, I became jealous of this Frenchman; and for the first time in my life I felt those pangs of the green-eyed monster, which have never been so truly and so fearfully depicted as by the poet of all times and nations.

My feelings soon became too powerful for restraint; they were speedily perceived by Harriet, and were as speedily allayed by that delightful tact which is peculiar to the sex. By a fascinating freedom of tone and manner in the presence of my fancied rival, she, in a moment, dispelled my fears; and taking my arm, the first time she had condescended to so much familiarity, she walked up and down the avenue with me, while I could perceive her sister and Adolphe Berton, for so the Frenchman was called, in animated and delighted conversation, téte-à-tête.

Thenceforward I became more reconciled to, and more intimate with the poor prisoner, who had lost his liberty at the battle of Vimiera, and was now pining his soul away for the field of honour and the clash of arms. One only source of comfort, if not of happiness, he possessed in the love of Jane Sibley, which he repaid with interest, not only as a means of present enjoyment, but as the instrument of some ulterior advantage which he doubtless had in contemplation.

Time now flew with me on eagle's pinions, for I was perfectly happy and free from care. My regimental and garrison duties were performed with zeal and assiduity; I was high in estimation with the heads of the regiment, and a favourite with my brother officers generally: nay, I began to be talked of in the garrison as a first-rate billiard and racket player, a linguist, a good fencer, a crack shot, and a dashing horseman; for though I kept no cattle of my own, I hunted frequently in Leicestershire with Colonel Foley and Lord Rodney, and always rode their matches at the Stamford races, where Percy Blake" soon became a "household word." Add to this, there were few men in the garrison who could out-walk, out-run, or out-jump me; and though my figure was slight and wiry, I could pitch a light or a heavy stone with any grenadier in the regiment, this being one item in that system of specious idleness, the besetting sin of the youth of Ireland. Then, again, I was the envy of my brother subs for being all on velvet, as they termed it, with la Belle Harriette; and though my old tormenter, Davis, now and then reminded me that I was on the debit side of his ledger, an occasional remittance from my brother always enabled me to book up in time to save my credit, as a guarantee for a future advance,

But still there was some little hitch in my happiness that, like the ruthless gnaw in the liver of an old Indian, I could not get over; for it had been insinuated to me by some good-natured friend, who was jealous of my good fortune, that there was actually some sort of engagement between Harriet and a cousin of hers at Stamford, a rich farmer and manufacturer of the real, ripe, and palmy Stilton. It is true, he was represented to me as very plain, round and squat, like his own cheeses, with a huge shock head of red hair, large green spectacles, and otherwise a guy; but the intelligence made me so uneasy that I actually questioned Jane on the subject of this reputed engagement.

'Well," she replied, "there is, or was something in the matter; for mamma was very anxious about it, my cousin being very wealthy, and having quite a splendid establishment."

"And does he presume to aspire to Harriet ?" I demanded.

"Oh, most ardently," she replied with a smile; “even though he has heard of a certain Hotspur from the sister island."

"And how does Harriet receive his addresses?" I asked.

'She doesn't care about him," said Jane, naïvely, "especially since -ahem-but you needn't trouble yourself about him."

'Especially since when?" I eagerly demanded.

"I'll tell you another time,” she replied in some confusion, "but there's mamma calling me in the garden." And off she ran.

"Especially since!" Oh, that excruciating hiatus, which left me suspended between the heaven of hope and the gulf of despair. There was, however, something encouraging in the half-confidence with which I had been favoured, and I mustered impudence enough, when I met Harriet, to utter some stupid witticisms about Wigsbys, milk-pans, cheese-vats, &c., which made her look excessively grave, and put a sudden stop to our conversation."

For three or four days after this I could not get even a glimpse of my divinity, till at last I began to think I had given her mortal offence, and was revolving in my own mind whether I should shoot myself or Wigsby, when a little urchin from Stilton put a note into my hand, and walked off without waiting for an answer.

I opened the missive, and found, to my great delight, that it was from Harriet, asking me to meet her that evening at a well-known stile, midway between the village and the Cross.

True to the touch, I was there at the appointed hour, and had not long to wait for my belle. She was accompanied by a little brother and a huge Newfoundland dog, and held out her hand to me as she approached; her charming face all radiant with mantling smiles. We took a few turns across the fields, and after mutual explanations and concessions on my part, were once more happy in each other's society.

"By the bye," she said, at parting, "I have a small favour to ask of you.

دو

To command, you mean, my dear Harriet," I exclaimed with energy. Am I not your knight, bound to obey your behest, at peril

of life and limb ?"

"Nay, nay," she hastily replied; "I would not put you in peril for the world" and she laid her hand upon mine with a gentle pressure, smiling in my face as only a fond woman knows how.

Well, then," I said, as I conveyed her hand to my lips, "tell me at once what I can do for you."

""Tis merely," she replied, rather hesitating, "to procure me the countersign for to-morrow night."

"Oh!" I cried, laughing, "is that your mighty request? I confess you mortify me most exceedingly."

Nay," she said, "if it be inconvenient-"

"Not in the least, dearest," I replied. "You shall have it tomorrow afternoon, the moment I receive it myself." And we parted. It may perhaps be known to the reader, that in garrison towns during the war, and especially at a place of so much consequence as Norman Cross, all persons approaching the post of a sentinel at night are challenged to give the countersign, in default of which they are arrested till they can satisfactorily account for themselves. At the Cross, where a tenfold vigilance was necessary, the countersign for the night was not issued by General Williams, the commandant, till late in the afternoon, and then it was communicated to the officers of the garrison through their respective commanding officers, in a little note sent to the mess-room. At a convenient moment, when this note had been seen by a sufficient number to give it circulation, I seized it, galloped down to Stilton, put the magic scroll into the fair hand of my Harriet, and was amply repaid by a profusion of thanks, and a shower of ethereal smiles.

It was stranger-night, and I sat late at the mess, making arrangements for joining Sir Gilbert Heathcote's hounds the following day with Colonel Foley, and dine with the "Hunt" after. When at last I sallied forth to go to my own quarters, I found it was blowing a gale of wind, and the old wooden buildings were creaking in the blast. It was, however, a fine clear night otherwise; the moon was struggling through a mass of clouds that seemed shattered by the tempest, and lit up the surrounding objects with fitful gleams that vanished as suddenly in the deepest gloom. Now, I dearly love this warring of the elements, when the atmosphere is free from rain, while the blustering wind braces the relaxed frame, and stimulates the blood to redoubled action; therefore, wrapping my cloak around me, and strapping my forage-cap under my chin, I determined to take a stroll, to cool me a little after a more than usual devotion to the rosy god.

As I sauntered on, not knowing whither to direct my steps, my ear was saluted by the deep challenge of a sentry.

66

Who goes there ?"

"Friend!" I replied.

Advance, friend," said the sentry, "and give the countersign." I advanced close up to the sentry, and whispering the countersign in his ear, walked on.

"Pass, friend!" cried the sentry, "and all's well."

This little scene reminded me of Harriet; and insensibly I strolled

down the road to Stilton; cogitating, as I breasted the gale, on the pleasant posture of my affairs, and comparing every sudden puff that assailed me to some rude shock of fortune which it was my duty and my pride to conquer. By the time I had got to the end of a long imaginary concatenation of fortuitous events, I passed close in front of my charmer's residence, which was only separated from the road by an ornamental railing and a narrow slip of flower-garden.

It was very late, but I could perceive, through a chink in the shutters, a light in the parlour; and wondering what could keep them up at such an unseasonable hour, I stopped for a moment. To my astonishment, I heard a man's voice within; and instantly the demon of jealousy seized upon my soul, for I could not suppose it to be any other than my rival, Wigsby.

Warmed with wine, and excited by exercise, I felt my passion mastering my reason, and I determined to be satisfied on the instant about this mysterious affair. I accordingly rushed up to the door, and gave a loud single knock, that I might not put them on their guard, and enable Wigsby to escape. I had to repeat it, however, before it was answered; and, when the servant-girl saw who stood before her, she gave a squeak, threw the door in my face, and bolted off into the parlour. I instantly followed, and before she had time to fasten the door I was in the apartment, and found myself face to face with la belle Harriette and that detestable Wigsby !

I had never seen the fellow before, but there could be no mistake in the matter, for there was the punchy figure, with the large green spectacles, and the horrid shock head of red hair. They had been indulging, forsooth, in a téte-à-tête, Miss Harriet being determined to have two strings to her bow; but, though so palpably caught in flagrant délit, they stood calm and collected before me.

So, madam!" I exclaimed, as well as passion would permit my utterance, "I have at length discovered your treachery and falsehood."

"Pray, sir," said Harriet, with the most dignified hauteur, "how dare you presume to enter this house at such an hour, and with so little ceremony?"

Her effrontery, I confess, somewhat abashed me; but, sustained by my passion, I replied:

"It was Providence that directed me hither, to save me from misfortune and disgrace."

And now that you have attained your object," retorted Harriet, while fire flashed from her eyes, "be good enough to retire; for Í have never given, and never shall give you, any right whatever to dictate to me what company I shall keep.'

Then, farewell," I cried, "for ever, false perjured woman, since you have got one that is evidently nearer and dearer to you than I am."

"He is," she replied, with a faint, ambiguous smile, "justly dear; and, I hope, will soon be nearer to me than he is at present."

"Harriet!" I cried, while tears of agony gushed from my eyes, "you have embittered my existence; but I forgive, and hope I shall