THE COLONEL'S STORY. 159 



of a very different description a lovely girl and an 

 idiot boy. Miss Morden, throughout the trying scene, 

 displayed the coolest courage ; and the poor simpleton, 

 who commonly would avoid the appearance of a gun, 

 armed with his spit, defended the breach like a hero. 



" We met at dinner. Julia, Miss Morden's cousin, 

 would hardly venture to join us, for her brother rated 

 her timidity severely. When the alarm was heard, 

 the fearful girl buried her face beneath the bed-coverings, 

 and remained in pitiable agitation until the contest 

 ended. Mr. Morden took her from his daughter's 

 arm, kissed her, and congratulated her on their 

 delivery from the last night's danger. 



1 You little coward ! ' said the old man, jocularly ; 

 ' you must give your deliverer one kiss at least for 

 your preservation.' The blushing girl received my 

 salute. Miss Morden took my hand. * You, too, 

 Emily, will you not reward your protector ? ' Without 

 coquetry, she laid her lips to mine, and that kiss was a 

 sufficient recompense for twice the peril I had 

 encountered. 



" But for me no praises seemed sufficient : the suc- 

 cessful defence was attributed to my exertions ; and the 

 fortunate shot that killed the villain smith was never 

 to be sufficiently commended. 



" My visit ended. / was in love with Emily ; but 

 then I had little chance of succeeding to the property 

 which afterwards, by a chapter of accidents, fell to me ; 

 and a company of foot was all my earthly riches. She 

 was an heiress ; and would it be generous to take advantage 

 of a casual service to press a suit that would be as painful 

 to refuse as unlikely to be granted ? I mean (so says 

 vanity) by 'Mr. Morden. No ! I overcame the temp- 



