festive board like yours? Who so ready to fill the flowing bowl
until even the rim is lost to sight, when your defenders have a few
hours to spare in their hard campaigning? You won't entertain angels
unawares to-night. You'd have been like Daniel in the den with none
to stop the lions' mouths, or rather the jackals', had we not
appeared on the scene. The Yanks were bearing down for you like the
wolf on the fold. Where's my pretty cousin?"

Mr. Baron had opened his mouth to speak several times during this
characteristic greeting, and now he hastened to the foot of the
stairs and shouted, "Louise, come down and help your aunt entertain
our guests." Meanwhile Whately stepped to the sideboard and helped
himself liberally to the sherry.

"You know me must maintain discipline," resumed Whately, as his
uncle entered the dining-room. "The night is mild and still. Let a
long table be set on the piazza for my men. I can then pledge them
through the open window, for since I give them such hard service, I
must make amends when I can. Ah, Perkins, have your people rub the
horses till they are ready to prance, then feed them lightly, two
hours later a heavier feed, that's a good fellow! You were born
under a lucky star, uncle. You might now be tied up by your thumbs,
while the Yanks helped themselves."

"It surely was a kind Providence which brought you here, nephew."

"No doubt, no doubt; my good horse, also, and, I may add, the wish
to see my pretty cousin. Ah! here she comes with the blushes of the
morning on her cheeks," but his warmer than a cousinly embrace and
kiss left the crimson of anger in their places.