We were by no means strangers, as I had repeatedly been thrown
with him in the army, and my intimacy with Will doubtless commended me
to the brave soldier's regard. An accident now seemed about to make us
still better acquainted. The orderly had reported that it would be
impossible to proceed farther with my horse that night, and I had
accepted the invitation of General Davenant to remain with him until
morning.
"My brigade is holding the right of the army, colonel," he had said;
"we have just moved to this position, and have not had time to become
very comfortable. But I can offer you a tolerable supper and a camp-bed
after it, with a warm welcome, I assure you."
I declined the supper, but accepted the bed; and seated opposite the
grizzled old cavalier, in his gray uniform, had begun to converse.
Something about the stately general of infantry, drew me irresistibly
toward him. His bearing was lofty, and not without a species of
hauteur; but under all was an exquisite high-breeding and courtesy,
which made his society quite charming.
At some words of mine, however, in reference to my visit on this day to
his son, a decided expression of gloom had obscured the smiles of the
old soldier.
"Yes, colonel," he said, with something like a sigh, "Willie has lost
his good spirits, and has been much depressed for more than a year.
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