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 have something of great privacy to communicate to Mr. Dare."

But the Corporal seemed disinclined to move. I understood his muttered reply to be to the effect that he knew his business thoroughly, and further, that he had encountered my kind before. However, I put such majesty in my look, and opened him the door with such an air, that he did my behests against the counsels of his judgment, for soldiers, of all men, cannot prevail against those accustomed to command.

In a few words, then, I calmed the riot in young Anthony. And when he saw what had been my error, and what had been his own, his eyes began to sparkle, and the sunshine came into his face.

"On my soul!" he cried, "I thought you could not be quite the she-devil that you seemed." And then with a tender gravity at the remembrance of his impending doom: "Bab, I wish I could live and love you. I should be a model of a husband, and we'd make a pretty handsome pair."

"Well," says I, fascinated with the bravery of his countenance, "I've the very greatest mind to make a husband of you. You are the most wonderfully handsome lad, and headstrong too, and that's why I so encourage you."

"I wish there was no Tyburn Tree," says he, with wistfulness.

Thereupon I gathered all my inches up.

"Tree or no Tree," says I, "I am going to make a declaration of my policy. Day or night I will not