Ah! Clara, that blush declares you guilty.--But,
who have we here? Middleton and Baynton."
The eyes of the cousins now fell upon the ramparts
immediately under the window. Two officers, one apparently
on duty for the day, were passing at the moment; and, as
they heard their names pronounced, stopped, looked up,
and saluted the young ladies with that easy freedom of
manner, which, unmixed with either disrespect or effrontery,
so usually characterises the address of military men.
"What a contrast, by heaven!" exclaimed he who wore the
badge of duty suspended over his chest, throwing himself
playfully into a theatrical attitude, expressive at once
of admiration and surprise, while his eye glanced
intelligently over the fair but dissimilar forms of the
cousins. "Venus and Psyche in the land of the Pottowatamies
by all that is magnificent! Come, Middleton, quick, out
with that eternal pencil of yours, and perform your
promise."
"And what may that promise be?" asked Clara, laughingly,
and without adverting to the hyperbolical compliment of
the dark-eyed officer who had just spoken.
"You shall hear," pursued the lively captain of the guard.
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