Chapter 14 - Page 2

my thanks, and the discourse took another direction.

"I met Harris, as I was walking hither this morning," Bulstrode continued,
"and he gave me, in his confused Irish way--for I insist he is Irish,
although he was born in London--but he gave me a somewhat queer account
of a supper he was at last night, which he said had been borne off by a
foraging party of young Albanians, and brought into the barracks, as a
treat to some of our gentlemen. This was bad enough, though they tell me
a Dutchman always pardons such a frolic; but Harris makes the matter much
worse, by adding that the supperless party indemnified itself by making
an attack on the kitchen of Mr. Mayor, and carrying off his ducks and
partridges, in a way to leave him without even a potatoe!"

I felt that my face was as red as scarlet, and I fancied everybody was
looking at me, while Herman Mordaunt took on himself the office of making a
reply.

"The story does not lose in travelling, as a matter of course," answered
our host, "though it is true in the main. We all supped with Mr. Cuyler
last evening, and know that he had much more than a potatoe on the table."

"All!--What, the ladies?"

"Even to the ladies--and Mr. Littlepage in the bargain," returned Herman
Mordaunt, casting a glance at me, and smiling. "Each and all of us will
testify he not only had a plenty of supper, but that which was good."

"I see by the general smile," cried Bulstrode, "that them is a _sous
entendu_ here, and shall insist on being admitted to the secret."

Herman Mordaunt now told the whole story, not being particularly careful
to conceal the more ludicrous parts, dwelling with some emphasis on the
lecture Mr. Worden had delivered to Doortje, and appealing to me to know
whether I did not think it excellent. Bulstrode laughed, of course; though
I fancied both the young ladies wished nothing had been said on the
subject. Anneke even attempted, once or twice, to divert her father from
certain comments that he made, in which he spoke rather lightly of such
sort of amusements, in general.

"That Guert Ten Eyck is a character!" exclaimed Bulstrode, "and one I am
sometimes at a loss to comprehend. A more manly-looking, fine, bold young
fellow, I do not know; and he is often as manly and imposing in his
opinions and judgments, as he is to the eye; while, at times, he is almost
childish in his tastes and propensities. How do you account for this, Miss
Anneke?"

"Simply, that nature intended Guert Ten Eyck for better things than
accident and education, or the want of education, have enabled him to
become. Had Guert Ten Eyck been educated at