280 Passages from a Military Journal. 



" The infantry have; and the cavalry which have just arrived from 

 the advanced guard are ordered in pursuit. This building is to be 

 made a temporary position. Have you forgotten our poor peasant's 

 daughter, and the giant of the romance in the shape of a French 

 subaltern?" 



" Have you rescued the poor girl, and given her up to her father?" 



" The first is done, but the second is to do. The inamorato is our 

 prisoner, and I have brought him along with me, together with the 

 damsel ; but under separate escorts. Campbell, seek the old man , 

 you are acquainted with his person, and will easily find him : bring 

 him here, and let him embrace his recovered daughter. I will take 

 upon myself the introduction of the latter." 



Campbell was saved the trouble of seeking him, for the old man 

 now came up, having heard of our success, accompanied by some of 



our officers. When he was within three or four steps of him, B 



made a sign to the detachment of hussars, which he had brought 

 with him, and they, immediately opening, disclosed the fair form of 



the party in question. B took her hand, and led her to her 



father. She darted towards him and fell on his knees, weeping : the 

 tears of sire and daughter mingled together, and the tout ensemble, 

 with the stern soldiery looking on in silence, made up a tableau 

 which would not have been unworthy the perpetuation of an artist. 

 The scene was certainly affecting. 



My expectations had been greatly surpassed ; she was really and 

 truly beautiful. Her complexion was brilliantly fair ; her hair long, 

 silken, and dark as a raven ; her eyes large, brilliant, and as black 

 as jet, shaded by long lashes of the same hue ; and her figure that 

 of a sylph or fairy. Our belle paysanne was indeed a paragon ! 



After having for some time given way to the impulses of affection, 

 father and daughter prepared to depart. A bow to the circle of 

 officers from the sire, and a general courtesy with downcast eyes 

 from the daughter, were the signals they were upon the move. It 

 was with considerable regret that we followed them with our eyes 

 as they slowly retired towards the convent. 



A pause ensued, broken by B 's order for the men to retire 



from under the walls and fall into rank. As we descended I en- 

 quired how the Frenchman defended his conduct. 



" Very well in his way," said B . " He did not see," said he, 



" that his being made a prisoner could make him accountable for any 

 prior action. What he had done he had done ; nothing that had a 

 right to fall under the surveillance of a British officer. After that he 

 curled his moustache and held his peace." 



" The man must be a rogue," said I. 



" Very likely," returned B , and here the conversation ceased. 



After mustering the men, we found less blanks than we had ex- 

 pected. We returned to the convent, where quarters had been 

 assigned us. Before I finish, I may as well observe that many a 

 bumper was that night drained in honour of our fair Spanish ac- 

 quaintance. 



HARGRAVE JENNINGS. 

 Late hussars. 



