“It would hardly do to betray a friend's secrets. Let Guert answer for himself; he is as frank as broad day, and will not hesitate about letting you know all.” “I wish Corny Littlepage were only as frank as twilight!” “I have nothing to conceal--and least of all from you, Anneke. The fortune-teller told me that the queen of my heart was the queen of _too many_ hearts; that the river had done me no harm; and that I must particularly beware of what she called Knights-Barrow_nights_.” I watched Anneke closely, as I repeated this warning of Mother Doortje; but could not read the expression of her sweet and thoughtful countenance. She neither smiled nor frowned; but she certainly blushed. Of course, she did not look at me--for that would have been to challenge observation. Mary Wallace, however, _did_ smile, and she _did_ look at me. “You believe all the wizzard told you, Corny?” said Anneke, after a short pause. “I believed that the queen of my heart was the queen of many hearts; that the river had done me no harm--though I could not say, or see, that it had done me much good; and that I had much to fear from Knights-Barrow_nights_. I believed all this, however, before I ever saw the fortune-teller.” The next remark that was made came from Anneke, and it referred to the weather. The season was opening finely, and fast; and it could not be long before the great movements of the year must commence. Several regiments had arrived in the colonies, and various officers of note and rank had accompanied them. Among others who had thus crossed the Atlantic for the first time, was my Lord Howe, a young soldier of whom fame spoke favourably, and from whom much was expected in the course of the anticipated service of the year. While we were talking over these things, Herman Mordaunt re-entered the room, after a short absence, and he took me with him to examine his preparations for transporting the ladies to Ravensnest. As we went along, the discourse was maintained, and I learned many things from my older and intelligent companion, that were new to me. “New lords, new laws, they say, Corny,” continued Herman Mordaunt; “and this Mr. Pitt, the great commoner, as some persons call him, is bent on making the British empire feel the truth of the axiom. Everything is alive in the colonies, and the sluggish period of Lord Loudon's command is passed. Gen. Abercrombie, an officer from whom much is expected, is now at the head of the King's troops, and there is every prospect of an active and most important campaign. The disgraces of the few last years _must_ be wiped out, and the English name be made once more to be dreaded on this continent. The Lord Howe of whom Anneke spoke, is said to be a young man of merit, and to possess the blood of our Hanoverian monarchs; his mother being a half-sister, in the natural way, of his present Majesty.”