and I am
enraged at myself when I chance to offend him; but then his eternal harangues
upon topics not worth the spark of a flint - his investigations about invalided
pots and pans and tobacco-stoppers past service - all these things put me out of
patience. I have something of Hotspur in me, sister, I must confess.«
    »Too much, too much, my dear brother! Into how many risks, and, forgive me
for saying, some of them little creditable, has this absolute and violent temper
led you! Do not let such clouds darken the time you are now to pass in our
neighbourhood, but let our old benefactor see his kinsman as he is - generous,
kind, and lively, without being rude, headstrong, and impetuous.«
    »Well,« answered Captain M'Intyre, »I am schooled - good-manners be my
speed! I'll do the civil thing by your new friend-I'll have some talk with this
Mr. Lovel.«
    With this determination, in which he was for the time perfectly sincere, he
joined the party who were walking before them. The treble disquisition was by
this time ended; and Sir Arthur was speaking on the subject of foreign news, and
the political and military situation of the country, themes upon which every man
thinks himself qualified to give an opinion. An action of the preceding year
having come upon the tapis, Lovel, accidentally mingling in the conversation,
made some assertion concerning it, of the accuracy of which Captain M'Intyre
seemed not to be convinced, although his doubts were politely expressed.
    »You must confess yourself in the wrong here, Hector,« said his uncle,
»although I know no man less willing to give up an argument; but you were in
England at the time, and Mr. Lovel was probably concerned in the affair.«
    »I am speaking to a military man, then?« said M'Intyre; »may I inquire to
what regiment Mr. Lovel belongs?« - Mr. Lovel gave him the number of the
regiment. »It happens strangely that we should never have met before, Mr. Lovel.
I know your regiment very well, and have served along with them at different
times.«
    A blush crossed Lovel's countenance. »I have not lately been with my
regiment,« he replied; »I served the last campaign upon the staff of General Sir
--.«
    »Indeed! that is more wonderful than the other circumstance! - for although
I did not serve with General