insomuch, that I dared to make an assignation with him for the evening. “You cannot, as a soldier,” added I, “refuse my challenge; but I warn you I shall bring into the field a _second_, in the person of Mary Howard.” He laughed, and replied with gaiety and gallantry, that he accepted my terms, although the time had been, when he should have conditioned for _others_; but that I might depend on his punctuality. On our return home I mentioned this arrangement to my companions. Sir Murdock, delighted with his morning walk, said he would be of the evening party; but instantly recollecting the difficulty of my engagement, he asked me, by what stratagem I intended to free the poor captive Mary from her cage. I was not quite prepared with an answer to this question; and could only reply, that I trusted to fortune and my own ingenuity for success. The gaiety of the baronet amply indemnified Lady Maclairn for having waited for her breakfast. She was treated with the detail of our walk and with quotations from Thompson’s seasons; and with the contentedness of the hour, and a good appetite, he rallied me on my advances to the captain, telling his wife of the appointed rendezvous, and of my plot to reach Captain Flint’s heart by means of his niece. Would you could see Lady Maclairn in moments like these! Why have I not Ithariel’s spear? For nothing less potent can reach the genuine features of this woman’s mind! This morning, for example, she was ingenuous and unconstrained, her sweet eyes contemplating with delight the cheerfulness of Sir Murdock, when in a moment I saw her countenance change, and her eyes cast downwards, from the effects of these words: “My Harriot, you must be of our party; you must intercede for poor Mary.”—“You know it is not in my power,” answered she, with evident distress. Sir Murdock’s gaiety sunk in an instant; but I interposed my influence, and with assumed spirits said, I would trust to no one for the deliverance of Mary but myself; and that I had already formed my plan of action. Do you not think Lady Maclairn is somewhat obliged to her guest for these timely helps? I suspect she feels her obligations of this sort sometimes too sensibly.