EPISODE FROM AN UNPUBLISHED NOVEL. 317 



happiness is wholly in the mind : could I but have forgotten what we 

 had been,, and what we ought to be, I might now perhaps have been 

 as happy as the lot of man will allow. 



Dreading to be discovered, or suspected, I did my utmost to con- 

 ceal, not to display, that superiority which education and the inter- 

 course of my youth had given ; but this could not so effectually be 

 done as to prevent me from being noticed, and made first a corporal, 

 next a serjeant, and after that a serjeant-major. 



Besides the fear of being known, there was another that greatly 

 harassed, and, with any other woman, would have driven me mad. 

 In a licentious assembly of soldiers, it could not be expected but that 

 the inexpressible beauty of Lady Elizabeth would attract admiration, 

 and embolden the dissolute ; yet, such was the exquisite propriety of 

 her behaviour, that she kept the most daring in respect, and held the 

 most profligate in awe. 



The hateful animosity and heat of war increased; opportunities 

 for the display of courage and military talent became frequent. I 

 had been so eminently successful, during three campaigns, as to gain 

 the applause of the whole army, as well by feats of prowess as by the 

 seasonable advice I had more than once given ; whence I obtained 

 the reputation of a man who knew as well to command as to obey. 



The Turks took the field early in the ensuing spring : their army 

 was numerous, and, confident in its strength, eager for action ; while 

 we, their opponents, not being in sufficient force, were desirous of 

 delay; but we found ourselves obliged either to make a dangerous 

 and perhaps fatal retreat, or to hazard a battle. Victory, on this day, 

 would probably decide the fate of the war, and nothing was so much 

 dreaded as defeat. Eager not only to encourage his men, but to see 

 where succours might be sent to most advantage, the commander-in- 

 chief advanced too far, and was recognized by the enemy. A party 

 of horse was detached to cut him down or take him prisoner ; but, 

 fortunately, I was so posted as to see his danger, and calling to my 

 comrades to follow, I rushed forward, arrived in time, cut off the arm 

 that was raised at the head of the General, disabled three of the 

 party, and though I sunk under my wounds, warded off the danger 

 till enough of my followers arrived, and the assailants fled. This 

 was not all ; gasping between life and death, I begged to speak to 

 the General, pointed out the part where the Turks were weak, told 

 him that if they were there broken they would certainly be thrown 

 into disorder, if not defeated, and induced him immediately to make 

 an attack, by which the fate of the day was decided. 



We were the conquerors, and my name resounded through the 

 camp : the General, with true magnanimity, loudly declared that to 

 me he was indebted first for life, and afterwards for victory. I was 

 appointed an oberhauptman, or captain in chief, and assured that the 

 Emperor would make me a field-officer of distinction. My wounds, 

 though deep and dangerous, were not mortal, and by the tender affec- 

 tionate cares of Lady Elizabeth, and the cheerfulness of mind which 

 happier prospects now contributed to give, my cure was speedy. 



From my first entrance into the Austrian service, every means of 

 disguise had been assiduously practised by me and Lady Elizabeth. 



