cowardice, as well as the drunkenness of the bully, thou wilt retire with me at once, that I may chastise thee as thou deservest."

"Bloet ende donder, mon cher !” cried Seagrave, not in the least disconcerted at this public insult" if you are for huffing and ruffling, for clashing swords instead of rattling glasses, it's all one to honest Bat. Seagrave; but at this moment I am upon duty, and too old a soldier to commit a breach of discipline, even for the pleasure of running a saucy young spitfire through the midriff. Wait till we are dismissed, mon ami, and then, zoo waar als ik leef, as Hans Mundungus says, you shall have a taste of cold steel in whatever part of the body you may prefer."

"It is a challenge then," cried Walter fiercely, "and that it may be understood to be a mortal one, thus do I throw down the gauntlet,”—and with the back of his hand he struck Seagrave slightly across the face.

"What, Sir!" exclaimed the person by Seagrave's side, who was of high military rank

"have you dared to strike your superior officer upon duty, in the field, and in my presence? This is intolerable! I place you instantly under arrest! Major Seagrave, I command you to your post-leave this affair to me such an outrageous violation of all discipline shall receive a signal and summary punishment."

"Zwaarten en ponjaarten !” cried Seagrave; "it is quite unnecessary, for I would presently have cooled his courage, and brought him to his senses by a single taste of Bilboa, one simple touch of Andrea Ferrara. However, General, I know my duty and obey." So saying, he saluted, and withdrew towards his post, previously exclaiming to Walter, as he replaced his disordered mustacho" Signor Gualtero, au revoir! you have presumed to derange my moustache, in return for which, I hope, ere long, to have the honour of letting a little daylight into your small ribs."

The General now made a signal to a file of soldiers, and addressing himself, as they came

up, to the subaltern at their head, desired him to take Captain Colyton prisoner, to march him to the guard-house, and place a sentinel over him night and day until farther orders, a command which was instantly put in execution.

The still infuriated Walter, who knew that resistance would be madness, and expostulation vain, obeyed with a silent, sullen resignation; in half an hour he was disarmed and immured in the guard-house, before the door of which a sentinel was mounted; and as his wrath slowly subsided, he began to reflect seriously and sorrowfully upon the probable consequences of publicly striking his superior officer when upon duty.

CHAPTER XI.

If he have reached the noble worth of Captain,
He may well claim a worthy gentlewoman,
Though she were yours, and noble.

I grant all that too, but this wretched fellow
Reaches no farther than the empty name

That serves to feed him.

A King and No King.

GREAT was the astonishment of the family at Orchard Place, when Edith's return from Hales Court apprised them of Walter's arrival in Somersetshire, and the probability of their shortly seeing him. "What, Walter! Captain Colyton, I mean, coming home!" exclaimed Hetty, colouring deeply in her sudden surprise and joy-"How extraordinary that he should quit the camp at Hounslow, when his

last letter announced" she checked herself, blushed violently at the recollection that she was about to betray her clandestine correspondence, and endeavoured to hide her confusion by playing with Ponto the spaniel.

66

Body o' me!" exclaimed the Squire — “I recollect nothing in his last letter that should prevent his following orders, and marching with his troop whithersoever it may be commanded; and by the flasks and flaggons! I shall be right glad to have a peep at the boy, just to see how he looks in his dragoon uniform. Troth! I was a pretty fellow myself at his age, and have had bright and leering eyes cast at me from many a balcony and window, as I marched through the country towns, though I had no better gear in those days than a buff jerkin with brass bosses, a plain iron cap on my head, and a rapier, with a chain rattling against my high boot-tops. But then, look you, I sat upon my horse like a centaur, with such a hollow and easy-playing back when he caracoled and curveted, that the donzellas used to point