114 THE CAPTAIN'S RETURN. "I should have thought a soldier better cut out to face evening-damps than a scholar," observed the 'squire;" and I don't like to part with you, for when you don't raise quibbles you are good company." The coach soon drew up to a small publie house, to water the horses, when the 'squire hallooed out, "Captain, if you'll behave better than you did the last time you were here, the ladies will let you come in, for I understand you don't like any but town air of an evening." The captain's answer escaped my ear, but it was soon discovered, by the approach of the driver to open the door, that the invitation was accepted. "We can' make room very well," said Rachael, glancing her eye towards the collegian, whose departure I shrewdly suspected was as far from her wishes as it was from the 'squire's. He took the hint, and springing forward, seated himself between her and Miss Finakin, who was thus once more compelled to endure the misery of travelling seven in a coach. Perhaps some of my readers may wish to know all particulars respecting the captain's conversation and deportment as an inside passenger. 'If so, they must take the trouble of proceeding a little farther, and they shall be related as briefly as possible. CHAP. XI. An effect produced by evening shadows regretted by one person in company. The Captain addresses the fair Rachael in an ap propriate speech. Mrs. Placid answers for her. The word Quiz briefly considered, and a few specimens given of the Quizzing art. A political conversation, in which all parties deliver one sentiment. The Captain and Miss Finakin arrived at their journey's end. Mrs. Placid pronounces upon an ob ject of misery. A happy mother and an amiable son. tion of true gallantry. An ac A GENERAL silence, as if by one consent, pervaded our party for a full quarter of an hour, after the entrance of our gay captain. This circumstance may appear surprising, and may be accounted for in various ways. I supposed the widow's silence arose partly from a conscious ignorance of the suitable topics for conversation with a fine gentleman. Mr. Bustle, I imagined, might be pondering certain ideas of a serious nature, which the widow had suggested. The scholar possibly might be solving a problem in Euclid, and his fair neighbour might be reflecting on the amiable qualities of some some favourite broadbrim. The fine lady of course was not wanting 116 THE RETORT COURTEOUS. for subjects of reflection; and as to myself-but 1 I say nothing of myself, lest I should incur the charge of egotism. I regretted the sudden alteration we experienced, and I regretted also another circumstance, for now "Confess'd from yonder slow-extinguish'd clouds, "A thousand shadows at her beck." And I could have dispensed with that she threw over the face of Mrs. Placid: but she was an arbitrary power, and remonstrance would have been useless. * "Let Our captain was the first to break the solemn pause which had taken place. He was seated opposite to Rachael, and she had been, throughout the day, an object of his attention. me see," said he, addressing himself to her," if I mistake not, thou art namesake to her who led our father Jacob a tedious twice seven years' courtship: I hope thou wilt not be so cruel.” The light glanced sufficiently on the face of the gentle Rachael for me to discover a look of contempt, which I could hardly have supposed her features capable of expressing, accompanied by a turn of her face towards her mother, which seemed to say, I wish thou wouldest answer him. "Art thou a Jew, friend," said Mrs. Placid, looking earnestly at the captain, as if to discover by his physiognomy, "that thou callest Jacob thy father?" "O, upon my honour," rejoined he, evidently a little disconcerted, "I forgot that your sect were enemies to a joke, I really ask pardon; I am so accustomed to humour that I cannot restrain myself as I ought in compliment to my company. "Don't imagine, friend," replied the widow, "that our sect are averse to decent mirth, and innocent humour. For myself, though I can say that I am decidedly of the poet's opinion, that "Sense is the di'mond, weighty, solid, sound;" yet I also think with him, that "When cut by wit, it casts a brighter beam;" therefore if thou canst entertain us by some innocent lively sallies of this agreeable quality, I do assure thee I shall be as well pleased as any other person in the coach." "Truly, madam," said the collegian, "were I in the gentleman's situation I should account myself in a miserable one; to be requested by a lady to be witty would destroy every effort I could possibly make for the purpose." "I don't desire impossibilities," rejoined Mrs. Placid, "if wit be not thy talent, make thyself easy, thou wilt never want it in thy palpit.". "I assure you, madam," said the captain, "I am no wit, and what I said to the young lady 118 RACHAEL REVENGED. was designed "To convince us of it, 1 suppose," interrupted Mr. Bustle; and, by George, you could not have taken a better method, for to speak a word to a modest woman, to put her out of countenance, is the silliest thing that can be imagined!" Rachael, thought I, thou art amply revenged! It is scarcely probable but that a man of the captain's courage and fashion would take fire at such an abrupt interruption and remark. And no doubt the affair would have produced much altercation between the gentlemen, had it not fortunately happened that the attention of each party was instantly diverted from the subject, by the sudden stopping of the coach in a part of the road where neither house nor person appeared. Miss Finakin expressed an alarin, and was sure something must be the matter, at the same time requesting her nephew to make inquiries. He did so, and was informed that an outside had let his umbrella slide from the top of -the coach where he had placed it, and was alighted to pick it up at a small distance." What is it old. Codger" said he; "Yes, sir," replied the man-" Quiz him, then," rejoined the captain, "give him a run, and here's half a crown for you." The driver took the hint, smacked his whip, and set off at a speed which our first-rate 'pedestrians could not have overtaken. "Really, friend," said Mrs. Placid to the captain, "it |