stated, when behold, before the ordnance could be discharged, the
foe had quitted the post and appeared in a new position of
annoyance on the Dominie's flank or rear. Often did he exclaim
'Prodigious!' when, marching up to the enemy in full confidence of
victory, he found the field evacuated, and it may be supposed that
it cost him no little labour to attempt a new formation. 'He was
like a native Indian army,' the Colonel said, 'formidable by
numerical strength and size of ordnance, but liable to be thrown
into irreparable confusion by a movement to take them in flank.'
On the whole, however, the Dominie, though somewhat fatigued with
these mental exertions, made at unusual speed and upon the
pressure of the moment, reckoned this one of the white days of his
life, and always mentioned Mr. Pleydell as a very erudite and fa-
ce-ti-ous person.

By degrees the rest of the party dropped off and left these three
gentlemen together. Their conversation turned to Mrs. Bertram's
settlements. 'Now what could drive it into the noddle of that old
harridan,' said Pleydell, 'to disinherit poor Lucy Bertram under
pretence of settling her property on a boy who has been so long
dead and gone? I ask your pardon, Mr. Sampson, I forgot what an
affecting case this was for you; I remember taking your
examination upon it, and I never had so much trouble to make any
one speak three words consecutively. You may talk of your
Pythagoreans or your silent Brahmins, Colonel; go to, I tell you
this learned gentleman beats them all in taciturnity; but the
words of the wise are precious, and not to be thrown away
lightly.'

'Of a surety,' said the Dominie, taking his blue-checqued