Anne with great emphasis, and reddening at the sense of injustice to
their host. 'What are you thinking of, talking like that? It is
ungenerous in you.'

'Ha, ha! I've affronted you. Isn't that it, fair angel, fair--what
do you call it?--fair vestal? Ah, well! would you was safe in my
own house! But honour must be minded now, not courting. Rollicum-
rorum, tol-lol-lorum. Pardon me, my sweet, I like ye! It may be a
come down for me, owning land; but I do like ye.'

'Sir, please be quiet,' said Anne, distressed.

'I will, I will. Well, Corporal Tullidge, how's your head?' he
said, going towards the other end of the room, and leaving Anne to
herself.

The company had again recovered its liveliness, and it was a long
time before the bouncing Rufus who had joined them could find heart
to tear himself away from their society and good liquors, although
he had had quite enough of the latter before he entered. The
natives received him at his own valuation, and the soldiers of the
camp, who sat beyond the table, smiled behind their pipes at his
remarks, with a pleasant twinkle of the eye which approached the
satirical, John Loveday being not the least conspicuous in this
bearing. But he and his friends were too courteous on such an
occasion as the present to challenge the young man's large remarks,
and readily permitted him to set them right on the details of
camping and other military routine, about which the troopers seemed
willing to let persons hold any opinion whatever, provided that they
themselves were not obliged to give attention to it; showing,