CHAPTER VII. What though my frowning father poured his rage Shall lend me her firm support, and conscious virtue Let the storm beat, And Heaven forget my father was e'er so cruel. BARBAROSSA. THE stranger whom we left at the Red Lion, having enjoyed the benefit of a night's repose, awoke the next morning, recovered from the fatigue he had experienced from his journey. We might somewhat wonder at the soundness of his sleep, when, in fact, many unpleasant thoughts weighed heavily upon his mind for he was no other than the identical Louis Sagittarius, so long considered as an inhabitant of the other world, and whose absence was mourned for by the company that had drunk so much punch at his expense. The landlord's curiosity was as much afloat as any of his friends, to learn the reason, and the business that brought his guest to Dorrington; for, with mathematical acumen, he considered that if he had no friends or acquaintances near at hand, that the business he came upon must bear some relation to government purposes; and, if such was the case, it behoved him to act cautiously for fear else of catching a ministerial squib. When, therefore, Louis descended into the parlour, wherein a substantial breakfast was laid by the hands of the hostess, the landlord took care to meet him with a number of cringing bows, and a multitude of expressions, all of which might be compressed into one meaning-if he were content with the accommodations or not. Upon this score Louis soon satisfied mine host, by assuring him that he liked them so well, as to remain at the inn during the time he meant to sojourn in the place. Louis, however he might smile at the repeated sly questions of the landlord to extract some particulars of his history, did not choose, nor, indeed, think it prudent that he should relate more of himself than was sufficient to let the other know the respectful distance existing between them. Our disappointed host was therfore fain to leave our hero, after receiving an order to send for the barber. A slight frost having succeeded the damp weather of the day before, had its influence in creating the appetite which our hero displayed, as he attacked the good cheer before him; and in the enjoyment of this, he passed the time until the barber arrived. It was not any actual necessity on his part that induced Louis to request from Simon a cast of his office, but that he knew he could not gain a better gazetteer of Sir Andrew's actions; proposing through this medium to gain some insight into his father's character, in order to ascertain upon what grounds he should be best prepared to encounter him. It was therefore with these views that he commanded the attendance of the little man of "lather." Our hero had scarcely ended the mornings meal ere the barber entered the room with an air of allegria, perfectly consonant to the size and make of his natty stature. "Good morning, colonel Archer," said he, making a bow that nevertheless savored of a little self importance and conceit, "fine day this-ah !—as I say to my wife, give me your frosty days in November." "You have discovered my name, I observe?" said Louis, half smiling. Why, yes, Colonel; but it could not be otherwise, a great soldier's name reaches to the most remote corner of the kingdom." "I hope you have not made my servant confess it ?" "Oh, no!—that is, sir," said Simon, a little confused, "we asked him on puss on' as they say in France; but he did ample justice to your bravery. Ah! we cut up the queer-ass-sieurs in style at that famous battle. Long life to England's heroes, say I; and to those that fell so gloriously, may they never want a bit of cold marble." - Simon than bustled out his lathering box, razors and scissors, bestowed a rebuke on the luke warm water the landlord sent in, and proceeded to lay his materials on the window seat, performing all this with an activity that could hardly fail of creating some inclination to mirth on our hero's part. "Has not your desire to learn the private history of individuals been some |