That the artful villain had secured it, and used it as the means of carrying on an intrigue in the regiment, for his own purposes, was sufficiently evident, and Edward had now little doubt that in the packet placed in his portmanteau by his daughter, he should find further light upon his proceedings.

In the meanwhile, the repeated expostulation of Houghton,--'Ah, squire, why did you leave us ?' rang like a knell in his ears.
'Yes,' he said, 'I have indeed acted towards you with thoughtless cruelty.

I brought you from your paternal fields, and the protection of a generous and kind landlord, and when I had subjected you to all the rigour of military discipline, I shunned to bear my own share of the burden, and wandered from the duties I had undertaken, leaving alike those whom it was my business to protect, and my own reputation, to suffer under the artifices of villany.

O indolence and indecision of mind! if not in yourselves vices, to how much exquisite misery and mischief do you frequently prepare the way!'.