little inclined to cowardice; but Harriot offered to bet any wager upon
the steadiness of my hand, and assured me that I should charm all
beholders in male attire. In short, as my second, if I would furnish her
with proper credentials, she swore she would undertake to furnish me with
clothes, and pistols, and courage, and every thing I wanted. I sat down to
pen my challenge. When I was writing it, my hand did not tremble
_much_--not more than my Lord Delacour's always does. The challenge was
very prettily worded: I believe I can repeat it.

"'Lady Delacour presents her compliments to Mrs. Luttridge--she is
informed that Mrs. L---- wishes she were a man, that she might be
qualified to take _proper_ notice of Lady D----'s conduct. Lady Delacour
begs leave to assure Mrs. Luttridge, that though she has the misfortune to
be a woman, she is willing to account for her conduct in any manner Mrs.
L---- may think proper, and at any hour and place she may appoint. Lady
D---- leaves the choice of the weapons to Mrs. L----. Mrs. II. Freke, who
has the honour of presenting this note, is Lady Delacour's _friend_ upon
this occasion.'

"I cannot repeat Mrs. Luttridge's answer; all I know is, it was not half
as neatly worded as my note; but the essential part of it was, that she
accepted my challenge _with pleasure_, and should do herself the honour of
meeting me at six o'clock the next morning; that Miss Honour O'Grady would
be her _friend_ upon the occasion; and that pistols were the weapons she
preferred. The place of appointment was behind an old barn, about two
miles from the town of ----. The hour was fixed to be early in the
morning, to prevent all probability of interruption. In the evening,
Harriot and I rode to the ground. There were several bullets sticking in
the posts of the barn: this was the place where Mrs. Luttridge had been
accustomed to exercise herself in firing at a mark. I own my courage