A LIFE FOR A LIFE By Dinah Maria Craik The Author Of "John Halifax, Gentleman," "A Woman's Thoughts About Women," &c., &c. In Three Volumes. Vol. I. London: Hurst And Blackett, Publishers, 1859 "_When the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive_." "_I came not to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance_." TO MARGARET AND MART. A LIFE FOR A LIFE. CHAPTER I. HER STORY. Yes, I hate soldiers. I can't help writing it--it relieves my mind. All morning have we been driving about that horrid region into which our beautiful, desolate moor has been transmogrified; round and round, up and down, in at the south camp and out at the north camp; directed hither and thither by muddle-headed privates; stared at by puppyish young officers; choked with chimney-smoke; jolted over roads laid with ashes--or no roads at all--and pestered everywhere with the sight of lounging, lazy, red groups,--that color is becoming to me a perfect eye-sore! What a treat it is to get home and lock myself--in my own room--the tiniest and safest nook in all Rockmount--and spurt out my wrath in the blackest of ink with the boldest of pens. Bless you! (query, who can I be blessing, for nobody will ever read this), what does it matter? And after all, I repeat, it relieves my mind. I do hate soldiers. I always did, from my youth up, till the war in the East startled everybody like a thunder-clap. What a time it was--this time two years ago! How the actual romance of each day, as set down in the newspapers, made my old romances read like mere balderdash: how the present, in its infinite piteousness, its tangible horror, and the awfulness of what they called its "glory" cast the tame past altogether into shade! Who read history then, or novels, or poetry? Who read anything but that fearful "Times?" And now it is all gone by we have peace again; and this 20th of September, 1856, I begin with my birthday a new journal--(capital one, too, with a first-rate lock and key, saved out of my summer bonnet, which I didn't buy). Nor need I spoil the day--as once--by crying over those who, two years since,= `````"Went up ```Red Alma's heights to glory."= Conscience, tender over dead heroes, feels not the smallest compunction in writing the angry initiatory line, when she thinks of that odious camp which has been established near us, for the education of the military mind, and the hardening of the military body. Whence red-coats swarm out over the pretty neighbourhood like lady-birds over the hop-gardens,--harmless, it is true, yet for ever flying in one's face in the most unpleasant manner, making inroads through one's parlour windows, and crawling over one's tea-table. Wretched red insects! except that the act would be murder, I often wish I could put half-a-dozen of them, swords, epaulets, moustaches, and all, under the heel of my shoe.